Evaluation Studies on Tobacco Smoking Health Promotion Programs for the Indigenous Australian Population
Literature Review:
Evaluation Studies on Tobacco Smoking Health Promotion Programs for the Indigenous Australian Population
Introduction
Tobacco smoking is one of the main causes of major diseases in Australia and is still the largest single preventable cause of death (AIHW, 2008). Smoking counts for 15,500 deaths annually and higher mortality and morbidity are found among Indigenous populations (AIHW, 2008). In Australia, the smoking prevalence is higher among the Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islanders. Approximately 34.1% of Indigenous Australians are smoking, compared to only 19% in the general populations (ABS, 2006). The high smoking prevalence is highly correlated with the premature deaths and morbidity among Indigenous people, which mainly caused by cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and other diseases related to tobacco use, resulting in 18 years of life expectancy gap between Indigenous people and the general populations (AIHW, 2008).
Australia is one of the most successful countries in implementing smoking cessation programs, but unfortunately Indigenous population’s smoking rates remain high (AIHW, 2008). This disparity between the Indigenous and Australian general population is highly correlated with the differences in health determinants (Lindorff, 2002), such as the lower socioeconomic status and cultural differences. Therefore, in order to address smoking problems in this particular community, there is a need to also address these determinants, such as culturally-appropriate approaches and economically feasible smoking cessation programs.
The current smoking cessation programs are well documented and evaluated for the Australian general populations, but unfortunately not for Indigenous people. There have been few discussions regarding which smoking interventions are effective for Indigenous population (Boffa et al. 2009) and about the potential of existing programs for this particular population. This review analyzes
Evaluation Studies on Tobacco Smoking Health Promotion Programs for the Indigenous Australian Population
Introduction
Tobacco smoking is one of the main causes of major diseases in Australia and is still the largest single preventable cause of death (AIHW, 2008). Smoking counts for 15,500 deaths annually and higher mortality and morbidity are found among Indigenous populations (AIHW, 2008). In Australia, the smoking prevalence is higher among the Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islanders. Approximately 34.1% of Indigenous Australians are smoking, compared to only 19% in the general populations (ABS, 2006). The high smoking prevalence is highly correlated with the premature deaths and morbidity among Indigenous people, which mainly caused by cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and other diseases related to tobacco use, resulting in 18 years of life expectancy gap between Indigenous people and the general populations (AIHW, 2008).
Australia is one of the most successful countries in implementing smoking cessation programs, but unfortunately Indigenous population’s smoking rates remain high (AIHW, 2008). This disparity between the Indigenous and Australian general population is highly correlated with the differences in health determinants (Lindorff, 2002), such as the lower socioeconomic status and cultural differences. Therefore, in order to address smoking problems in this particular community, there is a need to also address these determinants, such as culturally-appropriate approaches and economically feasible smoking cessation programs.
The current smoking cessation programs are well documented and evaluated for the Australian general populations, but unfortunately not for Indigenous people. There have been few discussions regarding which smoking interventions are effective for Indigenous population (Boffa et al. 2009) and about the potential of existing programs for this particular population. This review analyzes
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