摘要：Objectives. We examined trends in smoking behaviors across 2 periods among Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans in the United States. Methods. We analyzed data from the 1992–2007 Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey. We constructed 2 data sets (1990s vs 2000s) to compare smoking behaviors between the 2 periods. Results. Significant decreases in ever, current, and heavy smoking were accompanied by increases in light and intermittent smoking across periods for all Latino groups, although current smoking rates among Puerto Rican women did not decline. Adjusted logistic regression models revealed that in the 2000s, younger Mexicans and those interviewed in English were more likely to be light and intermittent smokers. Mexican and Cuban light and intermittent smokers were less likely to be advised by healthcare professionals to quit smoking. Mexicans and Puerto Ricans who were unemployed and Mexicans who worked outdoors were more likely to be heavy smokers. Conclusions. Increases in light and intermittent smoking among Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban Americans suggest that targeted efforts to further reduce smoking among Latinos may benefit by focusing on such smokers. Since 2000, Latinos have experienced the largest population growth of all US racial/ethnic groups, making Latinos the largest ethnic minority group in the country at 16.3% of the population. 1 Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans are the 3 largest Latino national and family background groups in the United States. 1 The leading causes of death among Latinos are coronary heart disease and cancer, both of which are strongly associated with tobacco use. 2,3 Although differences in smoking rates by Latino national origin groups have been found, 4–6 very little research has examined trends in smoking behaviors for various Latino national origin groups by gender in the United States. The aggregation of smoking rates for various Latino national origin groups masks important variations within the population group. 4 For example, smoking prevalence rates as determined by national data from 2008 are highest among Cubans (21.5%), followed by Mexicans (20.1%), and Puerto Ricans (18.6%). 3 Puerto Ricans and Cubans are also more likely to be current smokers than are Mexicans. 7 Furthermore, although research grounded on a nationally representative sample found that Latinos were approximately 4.5 times more likely to be light smokers than were non-Hispanic Whites, 8 that study provided only aggregated rates for all Latinos and did not differentiate between national origin groups. Gender differences have also been reported among disaggregated Latino groups. A higher prevalence of smoking has been reported among Mexican (25.0%), Puerto Rican (27.6%), and Cuban (24.7%) men than among Mexican (10.4%), Puerto Rican (24.2%), and Cuban (12.4%) women. 7 The lower rates of smoking among women have been consistent in surveys of Latinos. 5,7,9 Results from these studies, although informative, have generally been determined by aggregated Latino data or data from a single survey time point. Although such data are valuable and can demonstrate existing gender differences, national-level trends from Latino nationality groups in the United States add valuable information that have not been previously reported. Previous research has also identified social and environmental factors associated with Latinos’ smoking behaviors. Acculturation to mainstream US culture plays a significant role in one’s health behaviors, 10 and as Latinos acculturate, their smoking behaviors become similar to those of non-Hispanic Whites. 7 Existing research has also revealed that Latinos are less likely to quit smoking, 11 receive tobacco screening, and be advised to quit by a physician than are non-Hispanic Whites. 12–15 A health professionals’ advice to quit smoking has been found to increase the likelihood that a smoker will successfully quit. 16,17 Lastly, workplace smoking policies have also influenced smoking prevalence and intensity. 18–20 Work environments adopting a smoke-free policy saw a 14% decrease in individuals’ smoking. 21 When examining national-level smoking behaviors among Latinos, it is important to account for social and environmental factors such as acculturation, physician advice to quit smoking, and work environment smoking policies, as they may influence smoking behaviors. Existing research on smoking behaviors among Latino national origin groups has been predicated on data from specific regions of the United States. 4,22–25 Although regional data are important for the development of community-level interventions, 4 national-level data provide an overview of the country’s progress in tobacco control as well as remaining and emerging challenges for Latinos nationwide. We compared smoking behaviors across 2 periods, about a decade apart, among Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans. Our goals in these analyses were (1) to compare Latino national origin groups across 2 periods to examine factors affecting changes in smoking behavior within and between groups, and (2) to evaluate demographic factors that influence current smoking behaviors within Latino national origin groups in the most recent period available. Examining long-term national trends in Latino smoking behaviors may prove vital to policymakers, public health officials, community workers, and interventionists as they address tobacco-related issues.
