Smoking cessation prevalence by menthol cigarette use and select demographics among adults in the United States, TUS-CPS, 2003-2019.

People who smoke menthol cigarettes, particularly those who are non-Hispanic Black/African American, are less likely to achieve successful smoking cessation compared with people who smoke non-menthol cigarettes. This study examined the 2003-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) harmonized data to estimate cross-sectional trends in cigarette smoking cessation among U.S. adults, stratified by menthol cigarette use, race/ethnicity, sex, and age. The analytic sample included respondents who smoked for ≥ 2 years (current users and former users who reported quitting during the past year). We tested cessation trends using orthogonal polynomial contrasts for overall, menthol, and non-menthol smoking cessation prevalence and stratified by race/ethnicity, sex, and age in logistic regression models. We also analyzed the 2018-2019 non-harmonized TUS-CPS data among recent quitters to examine differences in characteristics (e.g., demographic characteristics, smoking frequency, use of smoking cessation aids, switching to other tobacco products) by menthol cigarette use. We observed significant linear changes in prevalence trends for overall cigarette smoking cessation, menthol smoking cessation, and non-menthol smoking cessation (p < 0.0001 for all linear trends), and changes in menthol cessation among non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Other race/ethnicity categories during 2003-2019. In the 2018-2019 wave, we observed differences in menthol status for sex, race/ethnicity, age, and educational attainment. We did not observe differences for other characteristics. We observed changes in overall cigarette smoking cessation, menthol, and non-menthol smoking cessation prevalence during the study period; however, gains in cigarette smoking cessation were not experienced among non-Hispanic Black/African American adults who smoke.

Nicotine Pouch Awareness and Use Among Youth, National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2021.

INTRODUCTION: This manuscript examines prevalence of awareness and use of nicotine pouches among U.S. middle and high school students by sociodemographic characteristics and other tobacco product use and characterizes nicotine pouch and other tobacco product use behaviors among current nicotine pouch users. AIMS AND METHODS: Data are from the 2021 National Tobacco Youth Survey, a cross-sectional, school-based survey of middle and high school students (N = 20 413; overall response rate: 44.6%), which included questions on nicotine pouches in 2021 for the first time. Prevalence estimates, 95% confidence intervals, and estimated population counts were assessed for nicotine pouch awareness, ever use, and current (past 30 days) use, and for use behaviors related to nicotine pouches (frequency of use, flavor(s) used) and other tobacco products (ever, current, frequency of use) among current nicotine pouch users. RESULTS: Over one-third of students (35.5%) had ever heard of nicotine pouches. An estimated 1.9% (490 000) reported ever using them, while 0.8% (200 000) reported current use. Among current nicotine pouch users, 61.6% reported flavored nicotine pouch use, 64.2% reported current e-cigarette use, and 52.6% used multiple (≥2) tobacco products. Current use of nicotine pouches was common among current smokeless tobacco users (41.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, in 2021, while relatively few students had ever tried nicotine pouches or currently used them, more than one-third had heard of them. Current nicotine pouch users tended to use other tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Given previous rapid increases in youth uptake of e-cigarettes, it is important to continue monitoring nicotine pouch use among young people. IMPLICATIONS: This study's findings provide an important baseline for future monitoring of nicotine pouch awareness and use among middle and high school students. Emerging tobacco products, particularly those that are flavored, widely available, discreet, and inexpensive have the potential to attract youth. Given the potential of these products to appeal to young people, ongoing monitoring of nicotine pouch use behaviors is important to inform public health and regulatory efforts.

Trends in Education-Related Smoking Disparities Among U.S. Black or African American and White Adults: Intersections of Race, Sex, and Region.

INTRODUCTION: Despite its overall decline in the United States, trends in cigarette smoking could vary by intersection with demographic characteristics. We explored trends in education-related disparities in current smoking among U.S. adults by race (Black or African American and White), sex, and U.S. census region. AIMS AND METHODS: Data were from U.S. civilian non-institutionalized adults (aged ≥18 years) who self-identified as Black or African American and White and participated in the 1995-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. We estimated average annual percent changes in current cigarette smoking by the intersections of race, sex, census region, and educational attainment. We calculated educated-related prevalence differences in current cigarette smoking by subtracting the prevalence of bachelor's degrees from that of

Reproductive intentions among HIV-negative gay and bisexual men initiating pre-exposure prophylaxis in the Sustainable Health Center Implementation pre-exposure prophylaxis pilot study, 2014-2016.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed reproductive intentions and associated characteristics among men enrolled in the Sustainable Health Center Implementation pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) Pilot (SHIPP) Study. METHODS: We analyzed baseline data from 1275 men who self-identified as gay or bisexual and participated in the SHIPP study. SHIPP was a cohort study of PrEP implementation in five community health centers in Chicago, Jackson, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. conducted from 2014 to 2016. Participants completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews querying intentions to have a child in the future. We estimated the association between participants' reproductive intentions and their characteristics using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Approximately 47% of participants indicated their intentions to have a child. Black/non-Hispanic (aPR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.10-1.78) and other/non-Hispanic participants (aPR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.01-1.93) were more likely to report intentions to have a child than white/non-Hispanic participants. Participants were less likely to report intentions to have children as age increased (18-29 years, reference group; 30-39 years, aPR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64-0.99; 40-49 years, aPR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.33-0.72; 50+ years, aPR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02-0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians offering PrEP to black and other/non-Hispanic gay and bisexual men should assess their reproductive intentions as family-planning counseling may be an opportunity to introduce PrEP to HIV-negative gay and bisexual men.

Assessment of PrEP Awareness, PrEP Discussion with a Provider, and PrEP Use by Transmission Risk Group with an Emphasis on the Southern United States.

The number of new HIV diagnoses is highest in the South. Many persons who might benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are not engaged in the HIV PrEP continuum of care. We analyzed National HIV Behavioral Surveillance data to assess engagement in the PrEP continuum of care among persons with increased HIV risk. We compared PrEP awareness, discussion with a clinical provider, and use among persons living in the South to those living elsewhere in the United States. PrEP awareness was lowest among heterosexual persons (7%), highest among men who have sex with men (85%), and 26% among persons who inject drugs. PrEP use was low among each population (≤ 35% for all cycles). There was limited evidence of differences in PrEP use between persons in southern and non-southern U.S. Efforts are needed to increase use of PrEP among each of the groups with increased HIV risk.

RESUMEN: El número de nuevos diagnósticos de virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) es más alto en el sur. Muchas personas que podrían beneficiarse de la profilaxis preexposición (PrEP) no participan en la VIH-PrEP continuidad de la atención. Analizamos datos del Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia del Comportamiento Relacionado con el VIH (conocido en inglés como National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System) para evaluar la participación en la PrEP continuidad de la atención en personas con mayor riesgo de contraer el VIH. Comparamos concientización de PrEP, discusión con un proveedor clínico, y uso entre personas que viven en el sur con las personas que viven en otras partes de los Estados Unidos. Concientización de PrEP fue más baja entre personas heterosexuales (7%), más alta entre hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres (91%), y 26% entre personas que se inyectan drogas. Utilización de PrEP fue baja para todas las poblaciones (≤35% para todos los ciclos). La evidencia de diferencias en el uso de PrEP entre personas que viven en el sur con personas que no viven en el sur de los Estados Unidos fue limitada. Se necesitan esfuerzos para aumentar el uso de PrEP entre estos grupos con más riesgo de contraer el VIH.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Awareness and Prescribing Behaviors Among Primary Care Providers: DocStyles Survey, 2016-2020, United States.

Few studies have assessed providers' intent of prescribing PrEP in the future. We analyzed cross-sectional web-based surveys to estimate trends from 2016 to 2020 in PrEP awareness and prescribing behaviors in the United States among primary care providers. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate prevalence of PrEP awareness, prescribing behaviors, and likelihood of prescribing PrEP in the next 12 months. The adjusted prevalence for PrEP awareness was significantly higher in 2019 (93.7%, 95% CI 91.9%, 95.2%) compared to 2018 (88.1%, 95% CI 85.5%, 90.3%). The adjusted prevalence for prescribing PrEP was significantly higher in 2019 (16.4%, 95% CI 13.6%, 19.6%) and 2020 (15.6%, 95% CI 13.0%, 18.7%) compared to 2018 (12.2%, 95% CI 10.0%, 14.7%). Practicing in the West and regularly screening for HIV were associated with higher PrEP awareness and provision. Studies should examine factors associated with PrEP provision for groups with increased risk for HIV.

Community Members' Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Awareness, Attitudes, and Trusted Sources for PrEP Information and Provision, Context Matters Survey, 2015-2016.

Men and women of color have had low pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake. How one's preferred source of health information shapes attitudes toward PrEP is unclear. We conducted cross-sectional surveys to assess changes in PrEP awareness, knowledge, and attitudes, trusted sources for PrEP information, and associations between trusted source of information and PrEP knowledge and attitudes. Participants were recruited from six areas served by community health centers in Chicago, IL (two health centers); Jackson, MS; Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, D.C. during June-September 2015 (n = 160) and June-September 2016 (n = 200). Participants were Black (74%), heterosexual (81%), and largely unaware of PrEP (72%). Participants who trusted health experts and community organizations for PrEP information had lower percentages of agreeing with statements indicative of negative PrEP attitudes. Interventions that increase PrEP awareness as well as knowledge and favorable attitudes might help increase PrEP use in communities with high HIV prevalence.