title: Smoking among Aboriginal adults in Sydney, Australia.
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.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Eastern Campus, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia.
authors.forename: Punitha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arjunan
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Narellan Community Health Centre, 14 Queen Street, Narellan, NSW 2567, Australia.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poder
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Bankstown Community Health, 5/39 Stanley Street, Bankstown, NSW 2200, Australia.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.affiliation: Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern, 36 Turner Street, Redfern, NSW 2016, Australia.
authors.forename: LaVerne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellear
authors.affiliation: Babana Aboriginal Men's Group Inc., 37-47St John's Road, Glebe, NSW 2016, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heathcote
authors.affiliation: Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation, 187 Riverside Drive, Airds, NSW 2560, Australia.
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Bankstown Community Health, 5/39 Stanley Street, Bankstown, NSW 2200, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Millen
authors.affiliation: Babana Aboriginal Men's Group Inc., 37-47St John's Road, Glebe, NSW 2016, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spinks
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Eastern Campus, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Service, Sydney Local Health District, Level 9 North, King George V Building, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Li Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention