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Abstract

Background: US tobacco prevalence estimates often combine Hispanic subgroups, distorting a precise view of specific tobacco use patterns across culturally, geopolitically, and even genetically diverse ethnicities. National and regional data are commonly discordant given the variation in Hispanic samples, and often do not include non-cigarette tobacco product prevalence. Cameron Country Hispanic Cohort (CCHC) participants at the Texas-Mexico border provide a unique opportunity to observe tobacco use patterns in an ethnically homogenous Mexican-American population.

Methods: CCHC participants (n=1,672) reported on susceptibility to, ever, and current use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, snus, and snuff products. The present study reports cross-sectional prevalence for each tobacco product outcome and examines demographic associations.

Results: Nearly one in five participants currently use cigarettes, while current use for each other product remains under 3%.Susceptibility was associated with young age for all products, highest in never-users of e-cigarettes, among which 15% of those aged 18-29 were susceptible. Susceptibility in never-users of e-cigarettes, snus, and cigars was associated with US-acculturation. Over half of participants had tried cigarettes, and ever-users of all products were more likely male. Ever use of e-cigarette trial was associated with young age and higher educational attainment, US-acculturation, and being single.

Discussion: Prevalence of current tobacco use - chiefly from cigarettes - is higher in our sample than in national estimates for Mexican-Americans, and while a significant portion have tried cigars and e-cigarettes, overall current use of non-cigarette tobacco products is low in our sample.

Key Take Away Points

Prevalence of cigarette use is higher in our sample than in national estimates for Mexican-Americans

Although a significant portion have tried cigars and e-cigarettes, overall current use of non-cigarette tobacco products is low in our sample.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the cohort recruitment team, particularly Rocio Uribe and Dianey Perez. We also thank Marcela Montemayor and laboratory staff for their contribution, Hugo Soriano for our database management, and Norma Pérez-Olazarán and Christina Villarreal for administrative support. We thank Valley Baptist Medical Center, Brownsville for providing us space for our Center for Clinical and Translational Science Clinical Research Unit. We finally thank the participants of this study, who made this research possible.

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