Health Promotion Essay: Tobacco Use in Australian Indigenous Groups

This essay examines the issue of tobacco smoking within the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, where smoking rates are significantly higher compared to other groups. It highlights the health impacts such as lung disease and cancer, and notes the increasing number of indigenous youths who are taking up smoking, making governmental policies less effective. While awareness of the health risks exists, a lack of specific knowledge and the perception of smoking as a social norm hinder progress. The essay also addresses ethical considerations for health promoters, including cultural sensitivity and the potential for stress caused by anti-smoking campaigns. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for culturally appropriate health promotion strategies delivered by trusted sources to encourage healthier lifestyles within the community. Desklib offers a variety of academic resources including essays and solved assignments.

Running Head: HEALTH PROMOTION IN PUBLIC HEALTH 1
Health Promotion in Public Health
Tobacco smoking in the Australian community is a problem that has been facing the people for a
long time with the most negative impacts on the health and social lives of the users and the
society at large. Australia is made up of many groups and the main focus of the research goes to
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Due to the location and nature of the indigenous
people in Australia, they end up using tobacco more as compared to other groups.40% of the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are daily smokers (1). The policies put across by the
government strive to reduce the rate of tobacco use so as to reduce all the health complications
that come along with the habit. Throughout the years, there has been an increase in the number
of indigenous people smoking as especially with the great numbers of youths indulging
themselves in the act. It is therefore difficult for the governmental policies to take effect as
smoking has become a social norm among this group. It seems normal for most people and they
either smoke for enjoyment or stress (4). The health impacts that come along with tobacco use
include lung disease and different types of cancers like cancer of the mouth (3). The mortality
rate of this certain group is increasing each day due to diseases related to smoking.
Research suggests that the people are well aware of the problems associated with the issue of
tobacco use but lack the knowledge to understand the specific effects to different people
depending on their usage and situation. The government and NGO’S are however investing more
resources, time and knowledge to promoting the health of the aboriginals (4). Health and anti-
tobacco campaigns have been put to ensure that the group of people understands what their
current behavior could cost them in the future. The indigenous people are lagging behind in the
aspects of the knowledge required to use drugs responsibly for the sake of a better health (2).
They consider smoking a social activity that they must do regardless of the dangers it might
bring to their lives. It is therefore important to create awareness to the population encouraging
them to try a more natural and healthy living for a healthy life. Medical professionals can pass
the message better because they are the picture of health in the society.
Dealing with indigenous groups is usually challenging especially when trying to enforce change
in their ways of life. Tobacco use is one of the practices that the aboriginals of Australia consider
to be part of their cultural practices (2). Health promoters should therefore be aware of facing
issues that can be considered cultural discrimination because of asking people to quit the
particular product. Another ethical issue is the impacts that their campaigns might cause to the
long term smokers (3). If for example the medical team is explaining the problems that come
from smoking, they should consider doing it right because they might affect the users. People
might be scared after learning the truth to an extent that it stresses them which is another health
problem.

HEALTH PROMOTION IN PUBLIC HEALTH 2
References
1. Schofield T, Sebastian T, Donelly M, Anderson C. Tobacco use among Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander high school students: Understanding' the social' and the effects of
indigeneity. Australian Aboriginal Studies. 2015 Dec(2):46.
2. Martin F. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Use of Charities as a Structure to
Receive Mining Payments: An Evaluation of the Rationale Through Three Case Studies.
Griffith Law Review. 2013 Jan 1;22(1):205-37.
3. World Health Organization. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2013:
enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. World Health
Organization; 2013.
4. Eriksen M, Mackay J, Ross H. The tobacco atlas. American Cancer Society; 2013.