Anti-Tobacco Education in Vacation Bible School in Mississippi: The Morality of Tobacco Prevention

Abstract

Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding the morality of tobacco use of 355 mostly African-American youth in Mississippi, were measured before and after tobacco prevention lessons in summer vacation Bible school. Knowledge and behavioral intentions were strong initially and did not change. Two attitudes improved: youth favored anti-tobacco policy and activism even more after the lessons compared to before. One attitude deteriorated: youth favored banning young people from tobacco less strongly after the lessons compared to before. Educational implications for introducing tobacco prevention, which may seem to be a secular topic, into a religious setting such as summertime Bible school, include covering important topics such as the perniciousness of tobacco companies, the negative influence of tobacco advertisements, the benefits of anti-tobacco policies, and ways to increase young people's personal comfort with anti-tobacco activism.