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- Title
Protecting children from taking up smoking: parents' views on what would help.
- Authors
Marck, K.; Glover, M.; Kira, A.; McCool, J.; Scragg, R.; Nosa, V.; Bullen, C.
- Abstract
Issue addressed The present study investigated what factors the parents of children in low-income areas of Auckland, New Zealand, thought could help protect their children from smoking initiation. Methods Participants in a large quasi-experimental trial that tested a community-, school- and family-based smoking-initiation intervention were asked in a questionnaire 'What could we do to help you protect your children from smoke and taking up smoking?' Free-text responses were divided into distinct meaning units and categorised independently by two of the researchers. Results 1806 participants (70% of parents who returned the questionnaire) completed the question. The majority of respondents (80%) were either Pacific Island or Maori mothers and 25% were current smokers. Five main categories of suggested strategies for preventing smoking initiation were identified: building children's knowledge of the ill-effects of smoking; denormalising smoking; reducing access to tobacco; building children's resilience; and health promotion activities. The most common suggestion was to educate children about smoking. Conclusion Building children's knowledge of smoking risks was the main strategy parents proposed. There was some support for banning smoking in most public areas and for tougher moves to stop tobacco sales to minors. Few parents suggested innovative or radical strategies, such as banning the sale of tobacco, fining children for smoking or use of competitions. So what? To ensure reductions in smoking initiation for lower socioeconomic and Maori and Pacific Island people, further research should engage Maori, Pacific Island and lower socioeconomic parents in a process that elicits innovative thinking about culturally acceptable strategies.
- Publication
Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2014, Vol 25, Issue 1, p59
- ISSN
1036-1073
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1071/HE13029