Pacific Perspective on Tobacco Elimination

Tobacco-Free Aotearoa Conference 2010Waipuna Conference Centre, Auckland

Thursday 04 November 2010

Pacific Perspective on Tobacco Elimination

Context2004, First Pacific Peoples

Tobacco Control Action Plan developed

•National, cross sector fono•Six priorities identified•A key goal of the plan was to ‘establish a process for highlighting Pacific peoples tobacco control issues’

Purpose of Tala Pasifika

Established in 2008 to ensure Pacific peoples:

•Have their say on tobacco issues•Are actively involved in eliminating tobacco from their communities•Have a way of coordinating important tobacco control information and activities

Service Structure

What We Do

1. Advocate2. Communicate3. Coordinate4. Partner5. Training

Our Target Audience

• Pacific Children • Pacific Adolescents (13-19yrs)• All Pacific Males• Pregnant Women• Cook Islands Females

The Establishment Process

Identifying the Needs

• Responding to community and provider needs for information and evidence

• Ethnic specific information• Regional information

What the Evidence tells us…

Pacific Smoking Prevalence

Pacific % (95% CI) Non-Pacific % (95%CI)

Current Smoker

Men 35.0 (25.4 – 44.5) 25.2 (22.9-27.4)

Women 28.1 (22.8-33.4) 21.8 (19.8-23.9)

Total 31.4 (26.3-36.5) 23.4 (22.0-24.9)

Source: 2008 New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey

New Zealand Smoking Trends

Tobacco Trends, 2005

Pacific Smoking by Age

Age group Percent (95% CI)

15-24 29.2 (23.3 - 35.1)

25-34 32.3 (23.9 - 40.8)

35-54 25.8 (20.8 - 30.7)

55-64 21.5 (13.3 - 31.8)

Ministry of Health, 2007

Pacific Adult Smoking

Ministry of Health, 2007

Our Service PrioritiesBased on community feedback and the best evidence available, our service priorities are:

1. Eliminate exposure to second hand smoke

2. Prevent Pacific young people from smoking

3. Eliminate tobacco related disparities with a focus on our target audiences

Thank youFaafetai tele lava - Samoa

Malo Aupito - Tonga

Meitaki Maata – Cook Islands

Meitaki atu paka - Aitutaki

Fakaue Lahi - Niue

Vinaka vaka levu - Fiji

Fakafetai – Tuvalu