Building the African American/Black Community's Capacity to Elucidate Factors for High Smoking Rates in Jackson, MS:...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community-Based Participatory Research
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Smoking cessation has declined unevenly across racial and income groups, particularly in the Southern US.
• Significant tobacco-related health disparities persist, necessitating community-driven interventions.
• Community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles are vital for addressing these disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the underlying reasons for smoking behaviors within a specific community in Jackson, MS.
• To empower a community advisory group (CAG) to lead a needs assessment on tobacco use.
• To inform strategies for reducing tobacco-related harms and inequities through community engagement.

Main Methods:

• Utilized CBPR principles to build capacity within a 14-member CAG of Jackson, MS, residents.
• Conducted 13 interviews and 9 focus groups with 54 residents between October 2020 and September 2021.
• Employed thematic and in vivo analysis to interpret qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Participants reported smoking as a coping mechanism for systemic socio-economic issues, including racism and poverty.
• Smoking is normalized due to factors like ease of purchase, retailer visibility, and lack of community dialogue.
• Key drivers identified include peer/family influence, addiction, and limited access to cessation resources.

Conclusions:

• Community engagement and empowerment are crucial for effective needs assessments and intervention development.
• CBPR approaches yield rich, community-relevant data for addressing health inequities.
• Collaborative partnerships are essential for developing innovative solutions to tobacco social norms.