ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN TRENDS AND DETERMINANTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING

Results: Men were more likely to smoke than women throughout the study period, but they experienced a greater decline in smoking until 1994. We observed a small increase in smoking prevalence thereafter. Native Hawaiians reported the highest smoking prevalence, Japanese the lowest, and Caucasians intermediate levels. Graduate level education had the strongest inverse association with current and past smoking. Older age at interview, being married, and a higher body weight were related to lower smoking prevalence. Conclusions: Our data suggest a modest reversal in the declining smoking prevalence during the late 1990s. The persistent ethnic differences require new approaches that reach those groups who remain at high risk for adverse health effects from smoking. (Ethn Dis. 2005;15:316‐323)