Researching Effective Strategies To Tackle Tobacco Use In Indigenous Populations In Northern Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,438.00
Summary
Twice as many Indigenous Australians smoke as non-Indigenous. Smoking is a major cause of poor health amongst Indigenous adults and exposure of Indigenous children to second hand smoke is associated with childhood respiratory illness. The aim of this project is to find out which tobacco control programs work best to both reduce rates of smoking amongst Indigenous people and protect children from harmful second hand smoke.
Ear Health, Hearing, Speech And Language Development In Urban Aboriginal Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,617.00
Summary
Studies from the Northern Territory and Western Australia have established that Aboriginal children experience earlier, more frequent and more severe middle ear disease than any other children worldwide. There is little information on Aboriginal communities in urban setings or those living in NSW. This study will fill this knowledge gap by examining the burden of middle ear disease, hearing impairment and consequent speech and language delays in urban Aboriginal children in NSW.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Family Tobacco Control Program To Reduce Respiratory Illness In Indigenous Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,157,688.00
Summary
Over 60% of Indigenous children live in households with one or more regular smokers, where they are exposed to high levels of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). ETS is a significant and preventable cause of respiratory illness. The aim of this research project is to test whether a family-based program about ETS smoke will reduce the number of clinic presentations of infants for respiratory illness. If successful, it has the potential to improve the health of Indigenous children across Australia.
A Randomized Trial Of The Impact Of A Multi-intervention Anti-tobacco Strategy In 8 Indigenous Communities.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,750.00
Summary
Tobacco smoking represents the major risk to life and health within Australian Indigenous communities. Survey data suggest that prevalence rates for the Indigenous community are more than twice those of the non-Indigenous population. These rates are reflected in the pattern of mortality and morbidity within Indigenous communities. During the period 1989-1999 the smoking-related death rate amongst Indigenous Queenslanders was almost three times greater than that of non-Indigenous Queenslanders. A ....Tobacco smoking represents the major risk to life and health within Australian Indigenous communities. Survey data suggest that prevalence rates for the Indigenous community are more than twice those of the non-Indigenous population. These rates are reflected in the pattern of mortality and morbidity within Indigenous communities. During the period 1989-1999 the smoking-related death rate amongst Indigenous Queenslanders was almost three times greater than that of non-Indigenous Queenslanders. Additionally, tobacco smoking is a major contributing factor in many conditions that constitute significant Indigenous health problems. The natural history of smoking also differs between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Indigenous smokers start younger, are more likely to develop smoking-related conditions and tend to die younger than non-Indigenous smokers. Despite the above statistics, there is little published data on the effectiveness of anti-smoking interventions within Australia's Indigenous populations. Lessons from non-Indigenous communities suggest that the most successful strategies are those that target populations at many different levels. Rather than one isolated intervention, such strategies may include policy initiatives, training and education of health staff, community education and awareness campaigns and increased access to cessation techniques. Indigenous communities generally lack the capacity to initiate these type of tobacco control strategies. This project aims to examine the impact of a multi-intervention anti-tobacco strategy within north Queensland Indigenous communities. The project has three broad aims: 1) to increase the capacity of health services to implement and deliver anti-tobacco interventions; 2) to increase community knowledge and awareness of the risks of smoking and 3) to decrease the level of tobacco consumption within communities.Read moreRead less