Dr Marisa de Andrade Impact Research Fellow, Institute for Social Marketing (ISM), University of Stirling, Stirling
Abstract
NICE guidance suggests that reducing smoking prevalence among certain minority ethnic groups will reduce health inequalities more than any other measure. However, there is a dearth of evidence by ethnic group on health perceptions and trust, access to and acceptability of services.
As gaining access to minority ethnic communities is a complex and challenging endeavour with distrust and stigma being testing barriers, this research used ethnographic methods in Glasgow’s Southside – where up to half of residents are from minority ethnic communities in some neighbourhoods – to explore how Pakistani, Polish, Slovakian Roma and Romanian Roma communities perceive issues such as tobacco and shisha use, smoking cessation, acceptability of services, addiction and relationships with healthcare professionals.
By immersing herself in communities and spending time in local shops, community centres, libraries, shisha cafes and homes of migrants, the researcher engaged with community members (n = 78) through formal/informal interviews and focus groups and interviewed representatives from community organisations (n=35).
Respondents also shared their views on wider determinants of health such as alcohol consumption, food and exercise, use of social media, social connectivity, trust and suspicion in communities, and how information is obtained.
This presentation reports key findings and implications for healthcare providers.
