A comparison of tobacco use among Saskatchewan First Nations, Métis, and non-Aboriginal youth: Factors associated with youth tobacco use
Date
2000
Authors
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ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Tobacco use among youth is a serious public health concern because the age of initiation affects
one's subsequent health status. Mounting evidence shows that tobacco use among Aboriginal youth is
higher than in the general population; however, differences in prevalence rates between Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal youth have yet to be explained. The purpose of this project was to describe and compare
the tobacco use behaviours of First Nations, Métis, and non-Aboriginal youth in the Saskatchewan Youth
Attitudes Survey (SYAS).
This project involved a sub-analysis of data from 2605 Saskatchewan youth who took part in the
1996 Saskatchewan Youth Attitudes Survey. The purpose of the SYAS was to identify high-risk
behaviours, and included two questions on tobacco use. Based on self-reported ethnicity, these youth were
grouped into three Aboriginal status categories: non-Aboriginal, First Nations, and Métis.
Chi-square tests and ANOVA were used to compare First Nations, Métis, and non-Aboriginal
youth tobacco use on the basis of demographic, social, psychological, behavioural, and spiritual variables.
Logistic regression was used to develop three models of the factors associated with First Nations, Métis,
and non-Aboriginal youth tobacco use; these models were compared and contrasted.
Tobacco use significantly differed between the Aboriginal status groups. First Nations youth
were more likely to use cigarettes/cigars (79.3%) and chewing tobacco (30.5%), than Métis youth (78.3%
and 25.0%, respectively), followed by non-Aboriginal (60.1% and 25.3%, respectively). Sexual
intercourse, parental discipline, school attachment, preoccupation with death, drug use, gang activity,
alcohol use, and family cohesiveness, were significant factors associated with non-Aboriginal tobacco use,
while age, personal control, alcohol use, preoccupation with death, and drug use were significantly
associated with First Nations youth. Only drug use, alcohol use, school attachment and gang activity were
significantly associated with Métis youth tobacco use.
The results of this study confirm the importance of ethnicity as a factor associated with tobacco
use. Non-Aboriginal, First Nations, and Métis youth share certain factors associated with tobacco use;
however, a number of differences also exist between these groups. These results may inform health
professionals and may guide the development of tobacco reduction programs and interventions that are
sensitive to ethnic differences.
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Community Health and Epidemiology
Program
Community Health and Epidemiology