Smoking prevalence among US blacks: A southern factor?

Objective: To examine differences in smoking prevalence among black adults by state in the United States. Methods: Data from the Centers for Disease C ontrol and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 1992-1993 were used, along with census data. Results:. Smoking prevalen ce among blacks varied from 15.7% (Alabama) to 33.8% (Indiana). a group of states in the Lower South had low smoking-prevalence rates among blacks, de spite high black poverty rates. Conclusion: Delineating the factors respons ible for lower smoking rates among blacks in the Lower South could be usefu l in efforts to maintain such rates and to plan smoking prevention and cess ation programs for blacks in other geographic areas.