Smoking prevalence in Aboriginal adults

Why this indicator is important

Tobacco smoking is the single most important preventable cause of ill health and death in Australia.[1] Tobacco smoke creates cancer-causing chemicals that can cause cancers of the lungs, tongue, mouth throat and stomach.[2] It is the leading cause of cancer in Australia (contributing to 44% of cancer burden).[1]

​A key priority for the Cancer Institute NSW is to work with Aboriginal communities to deliver culturally appropriate, comprehensive interventions to reducing smoking rates, including in pregnant women.[3]

The NSW Aboriginal Quitline provides an individually tailored and culturally sensitive service to Aboriginal callers. This includes:[3]

• Aboriginal advisors to provide tailored advice to Aboriginal callers.
• An Aboriginal coordinator who is available to talk to community groups about the service.
• Aboriginal specific educational and promotional materials.
• Cultural awareness training and a flexible service that is adaptive to the needs of Aboriginal callers, such as extended call times and further scheduled calls when requested.

In 2021 the Cancer Institute NSW completed an evaluation of the Aboriginal Quitline service. Read the report here.

Proportion of Aboriginal adults* who were non-smokers, NSW, 2013-2022**

 

About this indicator

This indicator shows the proportion of Aboriginal adults who were non–smokers, NSW, 2013–2022.

• In 2022, 71% of Aboriginal adults identified as a non-smoker. This percentage has increased from 63.2% in 2013.

*  People aged 16 years and over.
** Mobile phone numbers have been included in the survey sample since 2012. Any significant differences observed between 2011 and 2012 estimates should be reported with caution, as they may reflect both real and survey design changes.

Notes

Data source: NSW Population Health Survey (sourced from HealthStats NSW, Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health). Available at www.healthstats.nsw.gov.au (accessed August 2023). 

References

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Smoking and e-cigarettes [Internet]. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [cited 8 March 2024]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/behaviours-risk-factors/smoking/overview

2. Cancer Institute NSW. Reducing smoking in NSW [Internet]. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, 2022 [cited 8^th March 2024]. Available from: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/prevention-and-screening/preventing-cancer/quit-smoking/reducing-smoking-in-nsw

3. NSW Health. Aboriginal communities and smoking [Internet]. Sydney: NSW Health, 2024 [cited 8th March 2024]. Available from: