HABIT

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HABIT (Hmong Against Big Industry Tobacco)
Program Presenter Al Bliss, Health Educator La
Crosse County Health Department La Crosse,
Wisconsin
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Goals of HABIT

• Reduce the amount of tobacco use within the Hmong
  community of La Crosse County.
• Secondhand smoke exposure will be reduced within
  the Hmong community households in La Crosse
  County.
• Increase knowledge of the dangers of tobacco use
  and exposure to secondhand smoke within the La
  Crosse County Hmong community.

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Objectives of HABIT

• By August 31, 2003, 100 Hmong smokers living La
  Crosse County will have decreased the number of
  cigarettes smoked daily by 20
• By August 31, 2003, 30 of Hmong in La Crosse
  County will report exposure to secondhand smoke
  in their homes compared to 38 reported in the
  statewide Hmong Tobacco Survey conducted in March
  2002.
• By August 31, 2003, 500 Hmong persons living in
  La Crosse County will increase their knowledge of
  the dangers of tobacco use and exposure to
  secondhand smoke by 20 compared to the March
  2002 statewide Hmong Tobacco Survey.

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American Legacy FoundationPriority Populations
Initiative Grant

• ALF awarded 21 million over 3 years for capacity
  building grants and innovative projects and
  research grants
• La Crosse County Health Department received
  50,000 to work with the Hmong community of La
  Crosse County for one year.
• Key Topics Infrastructure and Capacity Building,
  Prevention, Cessation and Evaluation

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American Legacy Foundation Grant

• Legacy identified priority populations for
  continuing efforts in tobacco control
• La Crosse received 2 additional years of funding
  to accomplish the following
• Expand program in Western WI
• Develop culturally tailored video
• Expand mini grants to other SEA organization
• Offer additional supplies of nicotine patch

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History of Hmong

• Hmong have 18 clans
• Each clan has a different last name
• Clan leader is the key representative for each
  clan
• Clan leader solves issues, arranges marriages,
  funerals, and provides spiritual leadership
• Needs of the clan are more important than needs
  of an individual
• The Hmong Shaman, or medicine man, plays a key
  role in health issues, marriages, funerals, etc.

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Southeast Asian Tobacco Use Survey Wisconsin
2002

• Brenda Rooney, PhD, Thai Vue,
• Yer Xiong, Al Bliss

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Methods

• Youth (ages 12-17) and Adult (ages 18) surveys
  were developed and available in English and Hmong
• Surveys were distributed through the Wisconsin
  United Coalition of Mutual Assistance
  Associations in Spring 2002
• Surveys also conducted in La Crosse County

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Results (2882 total)

• 1648 Youth
• 50 male
• Average age 14.8 years
• 60.2 born in US

• 1414 adults
• 57 male
• Average age 30.8 years (range 18-83 years)
• 23.7 born in US

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Current smoking rate by age and gender Hmong
Tobacco Use Study, WI 2002
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Past 30-day use by age and gender Hmong Tobacco
Use Study, WI 2002
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HABIT Programs

• Training and Educating Clan Leaders, Elders and
  Adult Facilitators
• Adult Programs, Cessation, Patch Program,
  Education
• Youth Programs
• Mini Grants and Partners

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Cessation Programs for Hmong Teens

• Recruitment
• Program Design 5 weeks 5 sessions
• Data Collection Prevalence, Knowledge
• and Attitudes
• Follow up for duration of grant Sept 2003
• Potential for nicotine replacement
• Curriculum ACS, AHA, ALA

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Cessation Programs for Hmong Adults

• One to one visits
• Receive referrals from clan leaders
• Promote program on local Hmong radio
• Work with family, not just individual
• Explain medical assistance coverage
• Work with community physicians as referrals
• Provide transportation and translation services
  to those in need
• Potential for nicotine replacement to those who
  qualify
• Curriculum ALA Take It Outside and ACS
  Fresh Start

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Methods

• Surveys used by WUCMAA also used in La Crosse
  County by agencies working with Hmong
• Interventions will be evaluated by pre/post
  program survey
• Comparisons of data collected to data from study
  in Spring 2002

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Hmong Teen Cessation Program
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Daily Smoking Rates of La Crosse County Hmong
Population
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Past 30 Day Smoking Rates of La Crosse County
Hmong Population
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Conclusions

• Teens who were involved in culturally tailored
  smoking cessation classes demonstrated fairly
  high success rates in quitting smoking compared
  to what we know about more traditional programs
  for youth.

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Closing

• Questions Answers
• Contacts
• Chue Thao 608 785-5834
• thao.chue_at_co.la-crosse.wi.us
• Al Bliss 608 789-4820
• bliss.al_at_co.la-crosse.wi.us