Newborn Asthma and Parental Smoking Project (NAPS)

The NAPS Project - Phase IV, was a 2 year, state-wide health promotion project (March 2005 - March 2007) managed by the Asthma Foundation of WA and initially funded by Healthway.
 
Kulunga was commissioned to undertake part of the Indigenous component which looked at ways to promote the ‘Care for my air!’ message to Aboriginal women who are pregnant.
 
The work of this project was sponsored by Heathway, with Kulunga being engaged by the project managers, the Asthma Foundation of WA.
 
The project aimed to:
  • Produce culturally appropriate resources that highlight the link between            passive smoke exposure and the risks of developing disease;
  • Distribute culturally appropriate resources to Aboriginal Health Workers and       Aboriginal Liaison Officers throughout the Perth metropolitan area and the         Wheatbelt region for dissemination to Indigenous women;
  • Have 50% of Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Liaison Officers workingin the Perth metropolitan area and the Wheatbelt region participate in the project’s information session/s;
  • Inform Aboriginal Health Worker students of the ‘Care for my air!’ message and provide information on the dangers of passive smoking for the foetus and newborn; and,
  • Build a partnership and provide support to the “Say No to Smokes” Project to assist with providing information to Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Liaison Officers on the dangers of passive smoking to the foetus and infant.
The following components of the project were commissioned to Kulunga:
1. To produce and trial culturally appropriate resources that highlight the link between exposure to passive smoke in utero or as a newborn and the risks of developing childhood asthma.
2. Contribute towards the distribution of culturally appropriate resources to Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Liaison Officers throughout the Perth metropolitan area and the Wheatbelt region for dissemination to Indigenous women.
3. To maintain the partnership that exists between the NAPS Indigenous Women’s
project and the Say No To Smokes project.
 
As a result, several resources were produced by Kulunga with support from the project reference group. These resources promote the health message Fresh air grows solid babies! 
 
Copies of these resources can be found under Resources/Publications.
 
Further information on this project, please contact Cherise Hawkins at the Asthma Foundation of WA on 08 9289 3600 or toll free on 1800 645 130.
 
 
Last updated 14 August 2009