Low Socioeconomic Status and Voluntary Tobacco Policies and Quit Behaviors

Audience: Researchers and tobacco control program staff working with populations of low socioeconomic status Key Points: The burden of tobacco use is disproportionately high among populations of low socioeconomic status (SES). SES is the greatest predictor of tobacco use; therefore, it is important to understand differences in smoking policies and quit behaviors among individuals of low SES to develop effective prevention strategies for this disparate group. Oklahomans ages 18 to 54 were randomly selected to participate in a population-based telephone survey assessing tobacco-related behaviors. Weighted logistic regression was used to test associations between SES and tobacco-related behaviors. A smoker of low SES was half as likely to have a home smoke-free policy than a smoker with higher SES. However, low SES smokers were 34 percent more likely to have a smoke-free policy in their vehicle. Smokers with low SES were 46 percent more likely than those with higher SES to want to quit and 63 percent more likely to have attempted to quit smoking within the past 12 months. Results of this survey suggest tobacco control strategies among the low SES population should focus on promoting home policies and increasing access to cessation. Educational Experience: The audience will learn the associations between socioeconomic status and tobacco-related behaviors from the results of a population-based survey, which suggest methods of addressing disparities among low socioeconomic status populations. Benefits: Understanding the differences in tobacco-related behaviors among populations of low socioeconomic status will lead to targeted prevention strategies to help reduce disparities.