Learning Objectives: Identify at least two socio-cultural issues that should be considered when developing anti-tobacco programs targeting the Vietnamese population.
Abstract: Background:
Over half of the Southeast Asians immigrating to the United States since 1975 were from Vietnam. It was reported that the U.S. Vietnamese population would reach four million by 2030. In 1993, lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Despite the emerging need to address this health issue, there exist few studies that describe behaviors, such as cigarette smoking, which correlate with lung cancer. Previous studies conducted on the Vietnamese community rarely report smoking statistics separate from Asian/Pacific Islander populations. Studies addressing the Vietnamese community specifically suggest that there are cultural implications surrounding smoking among this group. This study seeks to explore the socio-cultural dynamics of smoking among the Vietnamese community in Louisiana.
METHODS:
The study uses a combination of qualitative research methods to profile the cultural context of tobacco use in the Vietnamese community of Louisiana.
1. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with key community leaders.
2. Confirmatory focus groups were conducted with Vietnamese community members to augment the information from the interviews.
Results/ Discussion: Preliminary analysis of data indicates that among Vietnamese men, smoking holds an important role in social interchanges. The results also explain the gender differences in smoking rates and emphasize the need for more gender specific research in this population. Additionally, smoking is not perceived to be a health problem in the community. Findings from this study will be discussed in conjunction with recommendations for implementing an anti-tobacco program within the Vietnamese community.
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