Consumo de tabaco entre los mexicanos y sus descendientes, en Estados Unidos de América

Objective. To show the information obtained in U.S. surveysand studies on cigarette smoking or other tobacco usein Mexicans residing in the United States. Material andMethods. Different information systems and surveys wereused. Those used in the study herein presented include theYouth Risk Behavior Survey, 1991-2001, the National Surveyon Drug Use and Health, 1999-2001, the National HealthInterview Survey, 1978-2001, the Current Population Survey,1998-1999, The National Health Vital Statistics, 1999,and the U.S. Census Bureau, 2001. Results. A decreasedprevalence of cigarette smoking has been observed in theU.S. both in young persons and adults. A decreased prevalenceamong subjects reporting Mexican and Mexican-American(combined) ethnicity was also noted. Young adults andadults of Mexican or Mexican-American origin smoke cigarettesless frequently than non-Hispanic whites or AmericanIndians. However, this lower rate among Mexicans andMexican-Americans is due mainly to the lower use of cigarettesamong Mexican-American and Mexican women (combined).Although these women have a lower prevalence ofcigarette smoking than non-Hispanic white females, amongMexican-American and Mexican males (combined) cigarettesmoking may be as common as in non-Hispanic white males.Moreover, those who identify themselves as Mexican-Americanhave higher cigarette use than those who identify themselvesas Mexicans. Finally, Mexican and Mexican-Americanwomen (combined) of a lower education level are moreprone to smoking during pregnancy than females of the same group with a higher education level. Conclusions. Thisreport shows differences by age, sex, self-definition of ethnicity(Mexican or Mexican-American), and education level,regarding smoking among Mexicans or persons with aMexican background living in the United States. It is crucialto understand the demographic changes and trends and patternsamong Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the U.S.so as to design and implement smoking control programsthat are efficient, culturally sensitive, and designed specificallyfor Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.