NEIGHBORS FOR A SMOKE-FREE NORTH SIDE - EVALUATION OF A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION APPROACH TO PROMOTING SMOKING CESSATION AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICANS

Objectives. This study evaluated a community organization approach tha t emphasized involvement of audiences in program planning and implemen tation in promoting nonsmoking among African American residents of low -income neighborhoods. Methods. The quasi-experimental design involved a 24-month intervention in 3 low-income, predominantly African Americ an neighborhoods in Sit; Louis. Intervention neighborhoods were compar ed with comparable, untreated neighborhoods in Kansas City. Results. T he program was successful in engaging audience members in its governan ce and in instigating numerous and diverse neighborhood activities to promote nonsmoking. The prevalence of smoking declined from 34% to 27% in program neighborhoods but only from 34% to 33% in comparison neigh borhoods. This difference was apparent within all demographically defi ned subsamples, indicating that observed changes were consistent and n ot attributable to confounding by demographic characteristics. Conclus ions. A community organization approach emphasizing local authority fo r program decisions and involvement of informal networks may have an a ppreciable impact on smoking among residents of low-income, African Am erican neighborhoods.