Rural-Urban Differences in the Decline of Adolescent Cigarette Smoking.

Authors

Erika C. Ziller PhD, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Jennifer D. Lenardson MHS, University of Southern Maine, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Nathan Paluso MPH, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Jean A. Talbot PhD, University of Southern Maine, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Angela Daley PhD, University of Maine, Orono, School of Economics

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-21-2019

Keywords

MRHRC, Substance Use, Health Policy, Rural Health, Adolescent Health, Smoking, Tobacco Control

Publication Title

American journal of public health

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine change over time in cigarette smoking among rural and urban adolescents and to test whether rates of change differ by rural versus urban residence.

METHODS: We used the 2008 through 2010 and 2014 through 2016 US National Survey of Drug Use and Health to estimate prevalence and adjusted odds of current cigarette smoking among rural and urban adolescents aged 12 to 17 years in each period. To test for rural-urban differences in the change between periods, we included an interaction between residence and time.

RESULTS: Between 2008 to 2010 and 2014 to 2016, cigarette smoking rates declined for rural and urban adolescents; however, rural reductions lagged behind urban reductions. Controlling for socioeconomic characteristics, rural versus urban odds of cigarette smoking did not differ in 2008 through 2010; however, in 2014 through 2016, rural youths had 50% higher odds of smoking than did their urban peers.

CONCLUSIONS: Differential reductions in rural youth cigarette smoking have widened the rural-urban gap in current smoking rates for adolescents. Public Health Implications. To continue gains in adolescent cigarette abstinence and reduce rural-urban disparities, prevention efforts should target rural adolescents. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print March 21, 2019: e1-e3. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.304995).

Funding Organization

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Recommended Citation

Ziller EC, Lenardson JD, Paluso NC, Talbot JA, Daley A. Rural–Urban Differences in the Decline of Adolescent Cigarette Smoking. Am J Public Health. 2019;109(5):771-773.