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World No Tobacco Day 2010: Gender and Tobacco

Since 1987, the WHO has recognized the 31st of May of every year as the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). This is intended to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption. It is primarily designed to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and its negative health effects.

The theme for this year's WNTD is "Gender and Tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women". The WHO, other governmental and non-governmental organisations are bothered by the rising prevalence of smoking among women and the underlying factors responsible for this occurrence; hence, the choice of this year's theme. The theme is not only to create awareness about the luring tobacco epidemic among women, but also to expose the activities of the tobacco industry aimed at sensitizing women to take up the habit of smoking.

Some decades back, seeing a woman smoke, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria was more or less a unacceptable, but presently, smoking among women is gradually becoming a norm.

In 1995, 47% of men and 12% of women smoke cigarettes globally, representing an overall global smoking population of 29%. Evidence-based research shows that currently about 1.3 billion people smoke globally of which over 250 million (20%) are women.

A survey carried out in North-East Nigeria in 2002, showed that the prevalence of smoking amongst males was 45.3% while that of the females was 18.4% (this is close to 19% in the USA). Generally, smoking is 5 times higher among men than women; however, the gender gap declines with younger age. In developed countries, smoking rates for men have begun to decline while for women they continue to grow. The case is different in developing countries where the prevalence of smoking is on the increase for both men and women.

It is an established fact that every year tobacco smoking accounts for about 5.4 million deaths globally. Top on the list of tobacco-related diseases are lung cancer, chronic obstructed pulmonary disease (Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis), ischaemic Heart Disease, stroke, oral cancer, impotence and the rest. Smoking just a few cigarettes a day can double the risk of a woman having a heart attack. Women who smoke usually take a longer time to conceive than non-smokers. Similarly, quitting/ giving up smoking before pregnancy is important to decrease the risk of miscarriages and preterm births.

Women are also at risk of passive smoking when exposed to smoke from the burning end of a cigarette or exhaled smoke from a smoker, which is injurious to one's health. Worthy of note is the effect of passive smoking on children, particularly newborns, causing sudden infant death syndrome. Other tobacco-related diseases specific to women include cancer of the cervix, premenopausal breast cancer, early menopause, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), osteoporosis (weak bones), premature wrinkling and hearing loss to mention a few.

One could pause for a moment and wonder what could be responsible for the increasing smoking rates among women. Well the reason is not implausible - the tobacco industry! A former Director-General of WHO Dr. Harlem Brundtland once said, "Tobacco is a communicated disease. It is communicated through advertising and sponsorships". We can say that the tobacco industry has really been successful in spreading the tobacco epidemic from men to youths, and now, to women and young girls.

The tobacco industry engages in activities that directly lure women into smoking. Sometimes their advertisements/brands are specifically targeted to the women and young girls; for example, Virginia Slims Cigarettes advertisements in Hong Kong and Japan were specifically designed for the women population. The marketing of tobacco products to women by the industry is an attempt geared towards the replacement of nearly half of current smokers who will die prematurely from tobacco related diseases. In simple terms, if the tobacco industry can get more women to smoke, in just a matter of time, smoking will be "normalised" and more youths would accept passive smoking as the norm and easily cultivate the habit.

Certain measures have been taken by the WHO to reduce the demand for tobacco products through some of the articles of the FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) which include high taxation on tobacco products, ban on advertisements, promotions and sponsorships by the tobacco industry, smoke-free public places, prevention of tobacco sales to minors e.t.c. Of course, the WNTD 2010 with the aforementioned theme is yet another step taken to curb this epidemic.

Women are indeed nation builders, any activity that serves as a threat to the health and social well being of women should be resisted by all stakeholders. Tobacco consumption is deadly in any form (smoking, chewing, snuffing e.t.c) and it causes more harm than good. Women should remain healthy and help put an end to this social and public health hazard that is eating up the fabric of our society.

So in closing, ladies stand up for your right, stay healthy, secure your future and say ‘No' to tobacco.