Abstract 5278: Tobacco and areca nut use among Chuukese youth in Guam

Abstract

Abstract Background: Little is known regarding the tobacco use of Micronesian population in Guam. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) 2013, Micronesian youth have a higher prevalence rate of current smokers (27.2% vs. 15.7% for U.S.) and current smokeless tobacco users (39.7% vs. 8.8% for US) compared to the U.S. They also have the highest rate among all ethnic groups in Guam. This study aims to investigate tobacco use and areca nut use, which may explain high lung and bronchus cancer incidence and mortality rates among Micronesians. The survey in this study focuses on Chuukese youth, the largest group among Micronesians in Guam. Methods: Respondent-driven sampling method (RDS) was used to recruit 364 Chuukese youth (ages 13-19) to complete the survey. YRBS question items that measured cigarette, cigar, and smokeless tobacco use were included in the survey. Measures for areca nut use were also included. Chi-square tests were performed by bivariate analysis. Only high school-level youth are included in the analysis. Results: A total of 237 Chuukese high school students completed the survey. Fourteen percent of the participants currently smoke cigarettes, 6.4% currently smoke cigars, and 23.7% currently use smokeless tobacco. In addition, smokeless tobacco remains highest regarding daily use (11%) within the past 30 days prior the survey. Although there is high use of smokeless tobacco among participants, there are significant associations between gender and cigarette and gender and cigar use only. Boys smoke cigarettes and cigar at higher rates than girls. Among the recruited participants, 32% are areca nut users with tobacco product as an ingredient. There is significantly high association between smokeless tobacco users and areca nut with tobacco users. The majority of cigarette smokers (82.4%) have tried to quit smoking. Fifty-six percent of the smokeless tobacco users have tried to quit as well. However, only 17% of the participants are aware of the Guam Youth Quitline. Conclusion: Results suggest the need to raise awareness among Chuukese youth on tobacco cessation programs on Guam, particularly the smoking cessation quitline. Tobacco cessation efforts should not focus on cigarette use only, but must also be expanded to include the use of smokeless tobacco products and chewing areca nut. Future studies should investigate the roles and implications of tobacco as an ingredient of areca nut chewing among Micronesian youth. Citation Format: Lilnabeth P. Somera, Brayan Simsiman, Grazyna Badowski, Hye-ryeon Lee, Kevin Cassel. Tobacco and areca nut use among Chuukese youth in Guam [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5278.