Research Project

The Prevalence and Patterns of Tobacco use among young BME People Residing in the Southside of Glasgow

Funded by: ASH Scotland - Tobacco & Inequalities Fund

Time Period: November 2005 - May 2006

Current Work to Date:

  • Secondary research was carried out in the form of a literature review.
  • Questionnaire interviews with local BME youths and a focus group was carried out as part of the qualitative research methodology.
  • Analysis of the data from the interviews, focus group and the literature is complete and a report is being compiled.

Recommendations from Report:

  1. More educational and informational programmes about the dangers of tobacco use should be developed by involving young people in the design and delivery of smoking cessation services.
  2. Issues regarding gender discrepancy (female smokers) should be explored and policies in place to handle such sensitive issues.
  3. Stress and peer pressure were one of the main reasons for smoking - more work should be done to identify the causes and ways to counter them.

Future Work

The results from this research project identify the patterns of tobacco consumption and prevalence of tobacco consumption amongst young BME people. In addition the findings shall be used to help design appropriate health interventions and anti-smoking educational programmes aimed at highlighting the negative effects of tobacco exerted on the health of young BME people.*

* This research project is in line with the Scottish Executive's 2004 document 'Tobacco Control Action Plan' which recommends that smoking cessation services should specifically address the needs of ethnic minority communities who may not access traditional health settings or be aware of their own rights, especially with regards to health care services.

 

For further information please contact:

Uzma Aslam
Assistant Manager
REACH Community Health Project
Tel: 0141 585 8023
E-mail: Uzma@reachhealth.org.uk

Shehla Ihsan
Chair/Line Manager
REACH Community Health Project
Tel: 0141 585 8022
E-mail: Shehla@reachhealth.org.uk