Anti-smoke messages need to be well aimed

WELLINGTON - A report on smokers reinforces the need to target anti-smoking messages to Maori, Pacific Islanders and low-income groups.

The report, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, analyses New Zealand smokers using census data.

It confirmed Maori had the highest smoking rate: 40.5 per cent of Maori aged over 15 years are regular smokers, compared with 23.7 per cent of all New Zealanders over 15.

It found 20.5 per cent of Europeans smoked and 28 per cent of Pacific Islanders.

More Pacific Island men than women smoked and, over the age of 50, more Pacific Island men than Maori men smoked.

Maori women aged 25 to 29 were the biggest smokers, with 55 per cent of them smoking regularly.

People with no qualifications, the unemployed, or those earning less than $30,000 a year had high smoking rates. Smoking rates for people with no qualifications were three times higher than for those with degrees.

The report was written by Dr Barry Borman and Cynthia Mailing of the Health Funding Authority and Public Health physician Nicholas Wilson.

"It reinforces the necessity to increase efforts at reducing smoking among Maori, Pacific Island people and low-income groups in general," the authors said.

Smokefree Coalition director Barbara Langford said the Health Funding Authority was doing what it could, within the resources available, to target Maori women. Programmes were being developed around the country.

However, the Government collected more than $700 million in tobacco taxes a year and much more of that money needed to be spent on anti-smoking campaigns.

Smoking was likely to be a key reason for poorer health among Maori and Pacific Islanders, the report said. Up to 31 per cent of Maori deaths were attributable to tobacco use.

- NZPA




Anti-smoke messages need to be well aimed




WELLINGTON - A report on smokers reinforces the need to target anti-smoking messages to Maori, Pacific Islanders and low-income groups.

The report, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, analyses New Zealand smokers using census data.

It confirmed Maori had the highest smoking rate: 40.5 per cent of Maori aged over 15 years are regular smokers, compared with 23.7 per cent of all New Zealanders over 15.

It found 20.5 per cent of Europeans smoked and 28 per cent of Pacific Islanders.

More Pacific Island men than women smoked and, over the age of 50, more Pacific Island men than Maori men smoked.

Maori women aged 25 to 29 were the biggest smokers, with 55 per cent of them smoking regularly.

People with no qualifications, the unemployed, or those earning less than $30,000 a year had high smoking rates. Smoking rates for people with no qualifications were three times higher than for those with degrees.

The report was written by Dr Barry Borman and Cynthia Mailing of the Health Funding Authority and Public Health physician Nicholas Wilson.

"It reinforces the necessity to increase efforts at reducing smoking among Maori, Pacific Island people and low-income groups in general," the authors said.

Smokefree Coalition director Barbara Langford said the Health Funding Authority was doing what it could, within the resources available, to target Maori women. Programmes were being developed around the country.

However, the Government collected more than $700 million in tobacco taxes a year and much more of that money needed to be spent on anti-smoking campaigns.

Smoking was likely to be a key reason for poorer health among Maori and Pacific Islanders, the report said. Up to 31 per cent of Maori deaths were attributable to tobacco use.

- NZPA