Laachir Karima, Goodman Nigel, Saini Bandana, Taibi Mustapha, Jones Penelope J, Vardoulakis Sotiris
Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University, 127 Ellery Crescent, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
HEAL Global Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, 11 Kirinari Street, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia.
Health Promot Int. 2025 Jul 1;40(4). doi: 10.1093/heapro/daaf113.
Air pollution is a major public health risk factor globally and a significant threat to people with respiratory conditions. People with asthma, and particularly those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, are disproportionally affected and have less capacity to protect themselves from air pollution. There is a critical lack of accessible resources and advice for people with asthma who are from CALD backgrounds. This qualitative study aimed to better understand Arabic-speaking Australians' perceptions of air quality, support their health literacy, and co-design resources to help them reduce their exposure to air pollution. A virtual roundtable discussion was conducted with key stakeholders from Australian Arabic-speaking communities to explore perceptions of air pollution and effective ways to communicate related public health messages to people with asthma within these communities. Australian Arabic-speaking communities generally have low awareness of air pollution. Although they use social media platforms and traditional media widely, more needs to be done to raise their awareness of air pollution and related health issues through targeted bilingual (English-Arabic) messaging and audiovisual material. The importance of religious and other community leaders in promoting environmental and public health messages within the diverse Arabic-speaking communities was highlighted. Future asthma-awareness and air pollution literacy campaigns should be designed in ways that reach CALD communities that have previously been underserved by public health promotion. Culturally sensitive health communication approaches are particularly important as Australia's population continues to diversify.
空气污染是全球主要的公共卫生风险因素，对患有呼吸道疾病的人构成重大威胁。哮喘患者，尤其是那些来自文化和语言背景多元（CALD）的人，受到的影响尤为严重，且自我保护免受空气污染的能力较弱。对于来自CALD背景的哮喘患者而言，严重缺乏可获取的资源和建议。这项定性研究旨在更好地了解讲阿拉伯语的澳大利亚人对空气质量的看法，提高他们的健康素养，并共同设计资源以帮助他们减少空气污染暴露。与来自澳大利亚讲阿拉伯语社区的关键利益相关者进行了一次虚拟圆桌讨论，以探讨对空气污染的看法以及向这些社区内的哮喘患者传达相关公共卫生信息的有效方式。澳大利亚讲阿拉伯语的社区对空气污染的认识普遍较低。尽管他们广泛使用社交媒体平台和传统媒体，但仍需要通过有针对性的双语（英语 - 阿拉伯语）信息和视听材料，进一步提高他们对空气污染及相关健康问题的认识。强调了宗教和其他社区领袖在向多元的讲阿拉伯语社区宣传环境和公共卫生信息方面的重要性。未来的哮喘认知和空气污染素养宣传活动应以能够覆盖那些此前在公共卫生促进方面未得到充分服务的CALD社区的方式来设计。随着澳大利亚人口持续多元化，具有文化敏感性的健康传播方法尤为重要。
