High tobacco use prevalence with significant regional and sex differences in smokeless tobacco use among Western Alaska Native people: the WATCH study

Tobacco use prevalence among Alaska Native (AN) people living in Alaska is greater than the general population prevalence statewide and nationally. Better understanding of regional tobacco use is needed to improve cessation efforts and reduce prevalence. Using self-reported baseline data from the We...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Circumpolar Health
Main Authors: Kathryn R. Koller, Christie A. Flanagan, Gretchen E. Day, Christi Patten, Jason G. Umans, Melissa A. Austin, Scarlett E. Hopkins, Cheryl Raindl, Bert B. Boyer
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017
Subjects:
Cigarettes
smokeless tobacco
Alaska Native
tobacco use patterns
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Arctic
Yukon
Norton Sound
Circumpolar Health
International Journal of Circumpolar Health
Kuskokwim
Alaska
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2017.1398009
https://doaj.org/article/580be2fbea5f424fb4f26132ac1deeb1
Description
Summary:Tobacco use prevalence among Alaska Native (AN) people living in Alaska is greater than the general population prevalence statewide and nationally. Better understanding of regional tobacco use is needed to improve cessation efforts and reduce prevalence. Using self-reported baseline data from the Western Alaska Tribal Collaborative for Health study, we describe tobacco use patterns among AN people in two western Alaska regions. Data were stratified by age group and sex. Dual- and multi-product use in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) region was stratified by concurrent vs sequential use. Overall, 87% of the cohort reported having used tobacco. In Norton Sound, cigarette (98%) was the predominant tobacco type. In Y-K 71% smoked, 76% used smokeless tobacco (ST), with 47% reporting use of both products. ST use in Y-K consisted of commercial ST and homemade iqmik. Y-K women reported more ST product use, while men reported more cigarette use. Among dual- and multi-product users, the majority reported concurrent use, with no significant differences between men and women. Distinct regional differences include high smoking prevalence in Norton Sound and frequent use of smoking and ST products in Y-K. Findings support modification of cessation programmes to address regional variations in tobacco use patterns.

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