FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKING AND THE REASONS FOR STOPPING IN MAORIAND EUROPEANS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Aim. To compare the prevalence of smoking, factors associated with smo king, ex-smokers and reasons for stopping in Maori and Europeans aged 10 years and older. Methods. Demographic and smoking data were obtaine d by personal interview using a standard questionnaire and assisted by Maori health carers. Report-back meetings were held. Results. The smo king status in 713 subjects (Maori 52.5%, Europeans 47.5%) was: curren t smokers (Maori 48.1%, Europeans 19.8%); never smoked (Maori 28.1%, E uropeans 47.5%); ex-smokers (Maori 23.8%, Europeans 32.7%). Of Maori s mokers, 66.1% were women whereas of European smokers 47.8% were women. Significantly more Maori aged 10 to 29 years smoked than Europeans (p =0.0002). Nineteen percent of smokers smoked <5 cigarette equivalents per day, 68.8% smoked 5 to 20, and 12.2% smoked >20 cigarettes per day . There was no gender difference in cigarette consumption. Maoridom (p =0.00001), a less skilled occupation (p=0.0008), lower income (less th an or equal to$15 000 p=0.002) and alcohol consumption (p=0.00001) wer e significantly associated with current smoking. Reasons for giving up smoking were health (majority), awareness of risks (Europeans), finan cial (Maori men), pregnancy (Maori women), social unacceptability (Eur opean women), on advice of medical practitioner (minority). Conclusion s. Smoking remains a major problem in New Zealand, particularly in Mao ri. Stricter anti-tobacco measures than already exist, greater input f rom medical practitioners and particularly ongoing participation by Ma ori health carers should lead to a further decline smoking.