The social determinants of being an Indigenous non‐smoker

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between various social factors and being a non‐smoker in a national survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 and over. Methods: We analysed data from the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (n=9,400) using logistic regression. Results: About a half (51.2%) of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population aged 15 years and over smoked, 33.4% had never smoked, and 15.4% were ex‐smokers. Higher socio‐economic position (as measured by each of nine variables) was strongly associated with being a non‐smoker rather than a smoker, after controlling for age and gender. There was a clear income gradient: increasing household income was associated with increasing likelihood of being a non‐smoker. Indigenous people who had been arrested in the last five years were 4.5 times less likely to be non‐smokers, adjusted for age and gender. Indigenous people who had been removed from their natural family were half as likely to be a non‐smoker. Conclusions: Different groups within the Indigenous population have quite different smoking behaviours, although the prevalence of smoking is very high in all groups. The poorest and most socially disadvantaged are the least likely to be non‐smokers. Implications: Indigenous tobacco control programs need to consider additional targeting of more disadvantaged groups. Tobacco control programs should work with broader campaigns to ameliorate social disadvantage among Indigenous peoples.

‘It had to be my choice’ Indigenous smoking cessation and negotiations of risk, resistance and resilience

“…A study of the social determinants of Indigenous nonsmoking (Thomas et al 2008) found that while there are some variations with age, gender and geographic location, the most significant determinant of Indigenous nonsmoking behaviour was socio-economic position. In this study, Indigenous people who had been arrested in the last five years, removed from their natural family or had not abstained from alcohol were also more like to be smokers than those who were not, yet these factors were not as significant in influencing smoking cessation.…”

The Role of the CSANZ in ‘Closing the Gap’: An Indigenous Cardiologists Perspective

“…In contrast to alcohol, tobacco use in the Indigenous community has received significantly less attention in the media and, until recently, in government policy and program funding. This is despite 50% of Indigenous adults being daily smokers and smoking being the leading cause of death and disability for Indigenous Australians [4,5].…”

Having a yarn about smoking: Using action research to develop a ‘no smoking’ policy within an Aboriginal Health Organisation

“…In contrast, just 19.2% of Victorian adults were regular smokers in 2002 [4]. While Aboriginal women are more likely than Aboriginal men to be non-smokers and to have never smoked [3], Aboriginal women are 2.5 times more likely to smoke than non-Aboriginal women [5].…”

“…As noted in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2004-2005, Aboriginal people are more than twice as likely to smoke than non-Aboriginal people in Australia [2]. Gender-and age-adjusted data from the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey indicates that 53.5% of Aboriginal Victorians aged over 15 are current smokers [3]. In contrast, just 19.2% of Victorian adults were regular smokers in 2002 [4].…”