TOBACCO USE - BASE-LINE RESULTS FROM PATHWAYS TO HEALTH, A SCHOOL-BASED PROJECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN AMERICAN-INDIAN YOUTH

Background. This paper describes a school-based cancer prevention proj ect for fifth- and seventh-grade Navajo and Pueblo Indian children liv ing in the South-west. Baseline data are presented from 714 students w ho completed questionnaires on smoking and smokeless tobacco. Methods. Questionnaires were administered in the fifth- and seventh-grade clas srooms prior to students receiving the Pathways to Health cancer preve ntion curriculum. Results. In our sample there were increases from fif th to seventh grade in self-reported current cigarette use and intenti on to use. Also, boys were more likely to use and intend to use cigare ttes than girls. The use of smokeless tobacco also increased with incr easing grade level, though this trend was less pronounced for girls. A significant gender difference was found in the use of smokeless tobac co with boys reporting higher use. However, reported use by girls was higher than is typically noted for non-Hispanic white girls. Conclusio ns. There is evidence of experimentation and regular use of tobacco pr oducts by both Navajo and Pueblo boys and girls. Even more students in dicate intention to use tobacco products in the future. These data con firm the need for primary prevention programs designed for this popula tion of American Indians. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.