Key findings from the 2009 New Zealand ... - Ministry of Health

Current smoking, by ethnic group
Table 3 gives an indication of the prevalence of current smoking and the estimated
numbers of current smokers in New Zealand in 2009, by ethnic group and sex.
Table 3: Current smoking among 15–64-year-olds, by ethnic group and sex, 2009
(unadjusted prevalence)
Ethnic group
Males Females Total
Prevalence
(95% CI)
Estimated
number
Prevalence
(95% CI)
Estimated
number
Prevalence
(95% CI)
Estimated
number
European/Other 20.6
(18.1–23.1)
204,200 18.9
(17.0–20.8)
207,600 19.7
(18.1–21.3)
411,700
Māori 40.2
(33.9–46.5)
63,300 49.3
(43.3–55.2)
90,500 45.1
(40.8–49.4)
153,800
Pacific 32.3
(24.7–40.0)
24,400 28.5
(22.2–34.9)
23,700 30.3
(25.5–35.1)
48,100
Asian 16.2
(11.0–21.4)
30,000 4.4
(1.9–8.5)
7200 10.7
(7.5–14.0)
37,100
Source: 2009 New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey
Note: Total response ethnicity has been used.
After adjusting for age, Māori females were found to be more than twice as likely to be
current smokers as females in the total population (Figure 5). Māori and Pacific males
were significantly more likely to be current smokers than males in the total population.
In contrast, Asian males and females were significantly less likely to be current smokers
than males and females in the total population.
There was no significant different in the age-standardised prevalence of current
smoking between European/Other males and females, and males and females in the
total population. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the age-standardised
prevalence of current smoking between Pacific females and females in the total
population.
Tobacco Use in New Zealand 17