Racial/ethnic differences in perceived risks and benefits of quitting smoking in a sample of African American and Hispanic adults living with HIV/AIDS: A preliminary study

Abstract

Persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) report very high prevalences of cigarette smoking, and there are racial/ethnic disparities in smoking consequences and quit outcomes. In this exploratory pilot study, we examined racial/ethnic differences in perceived risks and benefits of quitting cigarette smoking among 97 adult PLWH in the Bronx, New York (Hispanic, 53.6%; African American, 46.4%). Compared to African American PLWH, Hispanic PLWH reported greater endorsement of overall risks and benefits and risks of negative affect, difficulty concentrating, social ostracism, loss of enjoyment, and cravings. It may be useful to incorporate risks and benefits of quitting into smoking treatment for African American and Hispanic PLWH.

Keywords:

• HIV
• smoking
• perceived risks
• race
• ethnicity

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Alyssa Burns, Hannah Esan, and Christine Lee for their help with data collection and Melody Willoughby for her help with data management and entry.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health under grants R01-DA036445, R01-CA192954, R34-DA037042, and K23-NS096107.