Number of women tobacco users rising'
Sushmi Dey
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New Delhi:
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Commercials, Films To Blame: Study
The number of women consuming tobacco products has doubled over 15 years, according to a report by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI).While only 10% of women consumed tobacco products during the midand late-1990s, the number has increased to 20% in recent years, the re port said. Tobacco consumption among men has re mained in the range of 45-57% between 1995-96 and 2009-10. The increase in tobacco consumption among women was largely fueled by the rise in smokeless tobacco use, the PHFI report said. Promotional tactics linking tobacco consumption to empowerment is a significant factor, experts say .
Various surveys and studies show that India is at the second stage of tobacco epidemic where women tend to follow male pattern. “This is an expected rise. India is a developing nation witnessing tremendous socio-economic development coupled with financial independence of women. The tobacco industry sees women as lucrative consumers,“ Monika Arora, di rector-health promotion division at PHFI, said.
Women, in both urban and rural settings, see tobacco consumption as a sign of empowerment and hence they follow men, Arora added.This has been further enhanced due to Bollywood films containing tobacco imagery , resulting in large level exposure in India, relative to other countries, she said.
Trends in western countries show men are the first ones to start smoking with a gradual increase in the trend.In the second stage, women follow them.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
Various surveys and studies show that India is at the second stage of tobacco epidemic where women tend to follow male pattern. “This is an expected rise. India is a developing nation witnessing tremendous socio-economic development coupled with financial independence of women. The tobacco industry sees women as lucrative consumers,“ Monika Arora, di rector-health promotion division at PHFI, said.
Women, in both urban and rural settings, see tobacco consumption as a sign of empowerment and hence they follow men, Arora added.This has been further enhanced due to Bollywood films containing tobacco imagery , resulting in large level exposure in India, relative to other countries, she said.
Trends in western countries show men are the first ones to start smoking with a gradual increase in the trend.In the second stage, women follow them.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
