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California's tobacco control program contracted for tobacco use surveillance of Asian Indian Americans to address the paucity of information about tobacco use in this community, given their growing proportion of California's population. This study examined correlates of conventional (CTU) and Asian Indian traditional tobacco use (TTU) in a population-based sample of predominantly immigrant Asian Indian adults residing in California (N = 3228). The analytic sample (n = 2140) was limited to self-identified immigrants from India. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to examine correlates of tobacco use among Asian Indian immigrants related to their acculturation and religious affiliation. While 65% of the sample had ever used traditional tobacco products (paan masala, gutka, bidis), only 25% had ever used conventional tobacco (cigarettes, cigar, pipe, chewing tobacco, snuff). Less than 5% reported tobacco use in the past 30 days. Rates of ever TTU and CTU were higher among men than women. Ethnic enclave residence was not associated with tobacco use. Impaired mental health was associated with CTU, and number of years spent in the U.S. was positively associated with both CTU and TTU. Individuals affiliated with Sikhism were less likely to use tobacco than individuals affiliated with Hinduism. Few population-based studies in the U.S. address both CTU and TTU use among Asian Indian immigrants. Tobacco use in Asian Indian immigrants may be seriously underestimated if surveillance is limited to conventional tobacco products. Interventions to reduce tobacco use should address mental health issues and consider religious affiliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policies protecting children from exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) may help prevent SHS-related negative health outcomes in children and discourage them from intending to smoke in the future. In this study, we assess the impact of California's 2007 smoke-free vehicle law on changes in middle and high school students' reported exposure to smoking in cars. Secondary aims included assessing the association of student-reported exposure to smoking in vehicles and lifetime asthma diagnosis and future intentions to smoke. METHODS: Population-weighted data from the California Student Tobacco Survey and the National Youth Tobacco Survey were used to evaluate California and national trends, respectively. Weighted logistic regression models using California Student Tobacco Survey 2011 data assessed the association between the number of days of exposure to smoking in cars and student-reported lifetime asthma diagnosis as well as intention to smoke in the future. RESULTS: The proportion of California students reporting exposure to smoking in cars in the last 7 days declined <1% annually from 2001 through 2005, but declined 12% annually from 2007 to 2011. National trends did not show comparable declines after 2006. Students reporting exposure to smoking in vehicles were more likely to report having ever been diagnosed with asthma and intending to smoke in the future than students who were not exposed to SHS. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the legislative intent that public policies that are designed to protect children from exposure to smoking in vehicles will yield better adolescent health outcomes and a lower risk of future adolescent cigarette smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Data from a state-wide survey of California middle and high school students (N=20,203) were used to assess whether county income inequality and poverty rates were associated with adolescent smoking. Greater county income inequality, but not poverty rates, was associated with higher established smoking risk (p=0.0019). The association was stronger in males than females, whites than other ethnic groups, and urban than rural settings. Neither county income inequality nor poverty rates were associated with experimental smoking. The findings suggest that it may be important to consider and address economic inequality in the prevention and control of adolescent tobacco use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]