Release Date: Friday 11 April, 2003

SMOKING ILLNESSES MORE LIKELY FOR DISADVANTAGED AUSTRALIANS

Delegates at a national conference have heard that Australians with low incomes are much more likely to develop smoking related illnesses than those on higher incomes.

Public health researcher Gavin Turrell, from Queensland University’s School of Public Health, outlined research at the 2nd Australian Tobacco Control Conference in Melbourne that shows levels of lung cancer, heart disease and chronic lung disease caused by smoking are much higher amongst poorer Australians.

“Australians in socially disadvantaged areas have around 1.7 times the rate of lung cancer, double the rate of heart disease, and triple the rate of chronic lung disease compared to rates in higher areas where socio-economic is high,” Dr Turrell said.

Dr Turrell says his research has shown smoking rates vary depending on income, occupation, and education.

“This research shows conclusively that disadvantaged Australians are much more likely to smoke.”

“Our research has shown consistently that the likelihood of developing a smoking related disease increases with the level of socio-economic disadvantage.”

“Blue collar workers are around three times more likely to die from a smoking related illness compared to those at the manager/professional level.”

“This is because smoking rates are much higher among these groups.”

Dr Turrell says around smoking rates for Australians in the workforce are around 26%, however smoking rates amongst unemployed Australians are a staggering 44%.

His research has also shown that levels of education are also linked to smoking rates - 7% of Australian mothers with a diploma or higher qualification are smokers, compared to almost a third of mothers with no higher qualifications.

He says while reasons for the levels of inequality in both smoking rates and tobacco related disease in Australia are complex, one explanation is that smoking is seen as more of a social norm in groups where smoking rates are higher.

Dr Turrell said quitting is also more difficult in contexts where others are smoking.

“It’s also possible that smoking is used as a coping strategy to the difficulties associated with living in socially and economically deprived environments,” he said.

Over 370 delegates from Australia and overseas are attending the 2nd Australian Tobacco Control Conference in Melbourne this week. The conference concludes today.

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For media enquiries about the conference with Gavin Turrell, please contact Zoe Furman on (03) 9635 5517 mobile 0408 176 934 email zoe.furman@cancervic.org.au