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Rural Health Information Hub

Considerations for Tobacco Programs for Hispanic/Latino Populations

When designing and implementing tobacco cessation programs in Hispanic/Latino populations, it is important to consider the unique challenges, which contribute to tobacco use, including limited English proficiency, less exposure to anti-tobacco messages, and high workplace exposure to secondhand smoke, among others. Other factors that should be considered when developing programs for this population include an increased risk for using menthol cigarettes and a pattern of light and intermittent smoking.

The Community Outreach Tool Kit for Parenting Healthy, Tobacco-free Hispanic/Latino Youth is a toolkit designed to help community leaders to develop a multimedia campaign to increase awareness of the impact of secondhand smoke exposure among Hispanic/Latino parents who recently arrived in the U.S.

It is also important to disseminate messages through communication channels in Spanish. The California Department of Public Health has developed an fact sheet on the health benefits of quitting smoking for Spanish language speakers.