Skip to main content

Using a Collaborative Approach to Tobacco Control Efforts in Marginalized Communities

Description

Although significant progress has been made in tobacco control in the United States (US) over the past 50 years, more than 15% of the population currently use tobacco products.1 Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death, contributing to over 480,000 deaths and about $300 billion in economic costs each year. To achieve the Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) objective of 12% national adult smoking rate by 2020, it is important to focus our tobacco control efforts on surveillance and addressing disparities in tobacco use prevalence and tobacco-induced diseases across different subpopulations and geographic areas.2 Utah reported the lowest prevalence rate (9.7% in 2014), while rates as high as 28% were identified in central Appalachia. Modern epidemiology is limited in its ability to explain patterns of tobacco use and tobacco-related interventions and policies in these highly prevalent, marginalized environments. Therefore, a combination of quantitative and community-based participatory research (CBPR), as proposed in Public Health 3.0, will expand the scope and reach to address all factors of tobacco use, including cross-sector collaboration and multi-level actions.3 This study aimed to comprehensively investigate counties in the Northeast Tennessee region where tobacco use prevalence is disproportionately highest, and to identify regional and culturally specific evidence-based practices for tobacco control. Additionally, the study examined how these practices can be scaled up to address similar high tobacco use and disadvantaged populations elsewhere in the US and worldwide.

Objective

To examine community engagement as a means to strengthen tobacco-related policies and programs use in marginalized populations.

Submitted by Magou on