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Socioepidemiology of Cigarette Smoking Among Cambodian Americans in Long Beach, California

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Abstract

We examined the prevalence of cigarette smoking among Cambodian Americans in Long Beach, California. A stratified random sample of 1,414 adult respondents was selected from 15 census tracts with high concentrations of Cambodian Americans. The prevalence of current smokers was 13.0%; the sex-specific prevalence of smoking was 24.4% for men and 5.4% for women. The mean age of the sample was 50.5 years; about 60% of the respondents were women. The survey response rate was 90.5% among households in which respondents self-identified as Cambodian American, and at least one person completed the survey. Significant covariates of current smoking were gender, age, education, marital status, and health status. The prevalence of smoking among Cambodian men was higher than among other males in California. Culturally-tailored interventions should consider demographic characteristics of the target population as well as the high level of respect given to religion, elders, and peers.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grant # 16AT-1300H from the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program of the University of California. The efforts of our dedicated field interviewers: Kevin Tran, Sopheak Tuon, Sotha Chimm, Vongbrown Marshall, Theary Eung, Laarni Abenoja, Dexter Dizon, Yenba Bui, Devi Sharma, Sovirny Norng, Jane Kil, Kelli Hiraoka, Gill Navjot, Sophie Lim, Rachel Cuevas, Chamnan Im, and Allison Quibuyen. Special thanks to Marinett Thim, Thira Srey, Melody Moua, and the Cambodian American community of Long Beach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Science, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA

    Robert H. Friis, Claire Garrido-Ortega, Che Wankie, Paula A. Griego & Mohammed Forouzesh

  2. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA

    Alan M. Safer

  3. Cambodian Association of America, 2390 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, CA, USA

    Kirsten Trefflich & Kimthai Kuoch

Authors
  1. Robert H. Friis
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  2. Claire Garrido-Ortega
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  3. Alan M. Safer
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  4. Che Wankie
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  5. Paula A. Griego
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  6. Mohammed Forouzesh
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  7. Kirsten Trefflich
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  8. Kimthai Kuoch
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Correspondence to Robert H. Friis.

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Friis, R.H., Garrido-Ortega, C., Safer, A.M. et al. Socioepidemiology of Cigarette Smoking Among Cambodian Americans in Long Beach, California. J Immigrant Minority Health 14, 272–280 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9478-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9478-1

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