Smoking among Aboriginal adults in Sydney, Australia
Punitha Arjunan A I , Natasha Poder B , Kerry Welsh C , LaVerne Bellear D , Jeremy Heathcote E , Darryl Wright F , Elizabeth Millen C , Mark Spinks E , Mandy Williams A and Li Ming Wen G HA Health Promotion Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Eastern Campus, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia.
B Health Promotion Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Narellan Community Health Centre, 14 Queen Street, Narellan, NSW 2567, Australia.
C Health Promotion Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Bankstown Community Health, 5/39 Stanley Street, Bankstown, NSW 2200, Australia.
D Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern, 36 Turner Street, Redfern, NSW 2016, Australia.
E Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group Inc., 37–47 St John’s Road, Glebe, NSW 2016, Australia.
F Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation, 187 Riverside Drive, Airds, NSW 2560, Australia.
G Health Promotion Service, Sydney Local Health District, Level 9 North, King George V Building, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
H Sydney School of Public Health, Edward Ford Building (A27), University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
I Corresponding author. Email: Punitha.Arjunan@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 27(1) 66-69 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE15020
Submitted: 23 March 2015 Accepted: 23 June 2015 Published: 3 August 2015
Abstract
Issue addressed: Tobacco consumption contributes to health disparities among Aboriginal Australians who experience a greater burden of smoking-related death and diseases. This paper reports findings from a baseline survey on factors associated with smoking, cessation behaviours and attitudes towards smoke-free homes among the Aboriginal population in inner and south-western Sydney.
Methods: A baseline survey was conducted in inner and south-western Sydney from October 2010 to July 2011. The survey applied both interviewer-administered and self-administered data collection methods. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the factors associated with smoking.
Results: Six hundred and sixty-three participants completed the survey. The majority were female (67.5%), below the age of 50 (66.6%) and more than half were employed (54.7%). Almost half were current smokers (48.4%) with the majority intending to quit in the next 6 months (79.0%) and living in a smoke-free home (70.4%). Those aged 30–39 years (AOR 3.28; 95% CI: 2.06–5.23) and the unemployed (AOR 1.67; 95% CI: 1.11–2.51) had higher odds for current smoking. Participants who had a more positive attitude towards smoke-free homes were less likely to smoke (AOR 0.79; 95% CI: 0.74-.85).
Conclusions: A high proportion of participants were current smokers among whom intention to quit was high. Age, work status and attitudes towards smoke-free home were factors associated with smoking.
So what?: The findings address the scarcity of local evidence crucial for promoting cessation among Aboriginal tobacco smokers. Targeted promotions for socio-demographic subgroups and of attitudes towards smoke-free homes could be meaningful strategies for future smoking-cessation initiatives.
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