Exploring anti-tobacco messages from an experiential arts activity with Aboriginal youth in an Australian high-school setting

Abstract

High Aboriginal smoking prevalence exposes youth to passive smoking and encourages initiation. Using an educational arts-in-health project, we engaged youth in exploring the meaning of smoking for the Aboriginal community. An interactive classroom session educated N=20 Aboriginal high-school students about smoking and mass media literacy, followed by a poster-making session. The students could choose a threat-appeal, a positive benefit appeal or an advocacy message, targeted at youth, families or Elders. The visual and textual content of the posters underwent framework analysis to explore the range of messages and images. Students created innovative posters depicting issues facing Aboriginal people from smoking, including the potential loss of parents to ill-health. The majority of messages were fear-based (59%), and targeted family (63%). Over half of the students included Aboriginal arts styles or symbols. Aboriginal students exhibited insight into the effects of tobacco on their community.