Article Text
Abstract
Background The health status and needs of indigenous populations of Australia, Canada and New Zealand are often compared because of the shared experience of colonisation. One enduring impact has been a disproportionately high rate of commercial tobacco use compared with non-indigenous populations. All three countries have ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which acknowledges the harm caused to indigenous peoples by tobacco.
Aim and objectives We evaluated and compared reporting on FCTC progress related to indigenous peoples by Australia, Canada and New Zealand as States Parties. The critiqued data included disparities in smoking prevalence between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples; extent of indigenous participation in tobacco control development, implementation and evaluation; and what indigenous commercial tobacco reduction interventions were delivered and evaluated.
Data sources We searched FCTC: (1) Global Progress Reports for information regarding indigenous peoples in Australia, Canada and New Zealand; and (2) country-specific reports from Australia, Canada and New Zealand between 2007 and 2016.
Study selection Two of the authors independently reviewed the FCTC Global and respective Country Reports, identifying where indigenous search terms appeared.
Data extraction All data associated with the identified search terms were extracted, and content analysis was applied.
Results It is difficult to determine if or what progress has been made to reduce commercial tobacco use by the three States Parties as part of their commitments under FCTC reporting systems. There is some evidence that progress is being made towards reducing indigenous commercial tobacco use, including the implementation of indigenous-focused initiatives. However, there are significant gaps and inconsistencies in reporting. Strengthening FCTC reporting instruments to include standardised indigenous-specific data will help to realise the FCTC Guiding Principles by holding States Parties to account and building momentum for reducing the high prevalence of commercial tobacco use among indigenous peoples.
- Disparities
- Human Rights
- Priority/special Populations
- Surveillance And Monitoring
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Footnotes
Contributors All authors have made substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data for the work; assisted in drafting the work and/or revising it critically for important intellectual content; made final approval of the version to be published; and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Funding This research is funded in part by the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (Grant Number R01-CA091021) and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (Grant Number 379337). The funders played no role in the decision to submit the article or in its preparation.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Not required.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.