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NEWS: Helen Barratt UK government launches anti-tobacco campaign for Asians BMJ 2001; 323: 359b [Full text]

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Smoking amongst South Asians in the United Kingdom

S Pooransingh, S Ramaiah   (22 August 2001)

Smoking amongst South Asians in the United Kingdom 22 August 2001
S Pooransingh, (a) SpR Public Health Medicine (b) DPH Dept of Public Health Medicine, Walsall Health Authority, S Ramaiah Send response to journal: Re: Smoking amongst South Asians in the United Kingdom	Sir, Re: Smoking Amongst South Asians in the United Kingdom We read with great interest Helen Barratt’s article about the smoking cessation campaign targeted towards the South Asian community (1), as we are concerned that smoking is a growing public health problem among these communities. In Walsall we have conducted two health and lifestyle surveys (1995 and 2000) among our South Asian population who account for 8% of the total Walsall population. We carried out questionnaire surveys with face to face interviews. In 1995, we interviewed 1350 residents. In 2000 we interviewed 703 of the original 1350 respondents. 10.6% of respondents said they smoked in 1995, while in 2000, 10.4% admitted to smoking. In Walsall in 2000, 22.7% of men and 1.2 % of women say they smoke compared to 24.4% and 1.0% respectively in 1995. The smoking prevalence (2000) was higher in Bangladeshis (23%) compared to Indians (9%) and Pakistanis (13%). In 1995, Bangladeshis still had the highest prevalence at 24%. The Pakistani smoking prevalence was 15 % in 1995 while in Indians it was lower at 8 %. However, it is heartening to see that of the 78 smokers in 1995, 28 (36%) have now given up in 2000 and of the 619 non smokers in 1995, 593 (96%) still do not smoke. We question whether the huge difference in prevalence between men and women is indeed true. We have anecdotal reports from local professionals that the number of girls smoking seems to be increasing. If this is so, then the low prevalence reported in our survey could be due to an unwillingness to admit this to an interviewer in the presence of other family members. Focus group work in Walsall has also indicated that more women are now smoking as well as chewing tobacco. There was also a suggestion that unemployment and hence boredom predispose to smoking. Beishon reports that broadcast media and the local press are popular among the South Asian community for gaining health information.(2) The focus group work found that the Eastern Eye (Asian) newspaper was widely read. In our 2000 survey, when we asked respondents what would help them to give up smoking, 23% said help and support from family and friends and this was followed by 18% who said illness. Informing the whole community about the health risks of smoking therefore seems sensible. This might help family members to put pressure on smokers to quit. It might even encourage smokers to quit for themselves for which there are many initiatives available in the NHS. The campaign co-sponsored by the Government and Channel East is indeed an excellent effort and complementary to our work in Walsall, where we are continuing our efforts at raising awareness and providing services that support the needs of our local communities. We are aware of the important role of primary care teams and hope that our joint efforts will be rewarded. Dr Shalini Pooransingh Specialist registrar in public health medicine Dr Sam Ramaiah Director of Public Health Department of Public Health Medicine Walsall Health Authority Lichfield House 27-31 Lichfield St Walsall WS1 1TE References (1) Barratt H BMJ 2001;323:359. (2) Beishon S Nazroo JY Coronary heart disease: Contrasting the health beliefs and behaviours of South Asian communities. Health Education Authority 1997.