Research results indicate that Thai women are 10 times less likely
Press Release:Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center (TRC) Released date:For Immediate Release Research results indicate that Thai women are 10 times less likely
to favor cigarette smoking compared to Thai men. Moreover, Thai women also have better knowledge of cigarette dangers and have more negative attitudes toward cigarette smoking than Thai men. However, it is worrisome that over 10 million Thai women are exposed to second – hand smoke in homes and workplaces.
Dr. Buppha Sirirassamee, head of the research project, the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project, Thailand, from the Population and Social Research Institute, Mahidol University reported research results of monitoring conducted on 2,000 adult smokers and 1,000 adolescent smokers over 7 years (2005 – 2011). Details show that: (1) Women have better knowledge of cigarette dangers than men; for example, cigarette smoking is a cause of looking older than one?s actual age; cigarette smoking is a cause of mouth cancer and stroke, (2) A higher proportion of women feel that society does not accept smoking as compared to men, while 8 out of 10 men do not accept women who smoke.
The fact that the proportion of women who smoke is 10 times lower than among men indicates that cigarette smoking is not a popular trend among Thai women. However, the proportion of women and men smokers attempting to quit smoking is similar at 70%. In terms of teenage smokers, results show that male teenagers smoke 10 times the rate of female teenage smokers. The male rate is similar to the adult smoking rate for men. Both Thai male and female teenage smokers feel smoking is more acceptable smoking for men than for women. Analysis of data from teenagers show that the risk of smoking for male teenagers is up to 20 times higher than for female teenagers, said Dr. Buppha.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aree Chapakrai, the Deputy of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project, Thailand indicated that: (1) Women smokers are more likely to live in cities than rural areas,(2) The proportion of smoking women whose marriage status is divorced, separated or widowed is higher than for male smokers with a similar marriage status, (3) Smokers living in Bangkok are of the opinion that smoking among women is more acceptable than their counterparts in suburban and rural areas (16.2% to 8.9%). The important need to be addressed is how to let it be known that women do not agree with smoking and men do not like to see smoking by women. These are the facts that Thai society should learn about values affecting smoking behavior so that the negative value of smoking will be a major force to help women to be strong and not become victims of cigarettes.
Prof. Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit, the Executive Secretary of ASH Thailand, said he is pleased that the number of Thai women who smoke is at a low level. However, a serious problem is revealed in survey results of adult smokers in 2011 that indicates that 8.4 million Thai women are exposed to second ? hand smoke in their homes and 1.39 million in their workplaces.
Tobacco Research Control and Knowledge Management Center (TRC)
Supported by: Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth)
Coordinator: Haris Taweewatana, Tel., 0-2354-5346, 089-6627-917, Fax: 0-2354-5347 E-mail: haris@trc.or.th
