Dubai: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has highlighted the urgent need to carry out sustained anti-tobacco campaigns in schools after a survey showed that the smoking habit sets in by 10 years of age in many cases.
A survey of 5,000 households shows that adult smokers in the UAE pick up the habit at a very young age with women smokers too starting by the age of 13. It found that smokers are not well educated compared to non-smokers who are graduates or better qualified.
The survey was conducted in 2009 and its results were released yesterday to mark World No Smoking Day. It is the largest and most comprehensive survey on health and health care issues ever carried out in Dubai.
Surveyors contacted randomly selected households across Dubai and carried out detailed face-to-face interviews with adults aged 18 or above to assess a range of health and health-care issues including the prevalence and risk factors with regard to smoking.
Lower prevalence
Laila Al Jasmi, CEO of Health Policy and Strategy Sector at the DHA, said, "In terms of tobacco use and exposure, we have collated and analysed critical data on smoking patterns including the percentage of the population who are smokers, the break-up according to age and sex of smokers, their exposure to passive smoking as well as analysis of the places where they are most susceptible to passive smoking."
The prevalence of smoking among UAE nationals was found to be 8.6 per cent, significantly lower than any other nationality.
In terms of passive smoking, 62 per cent of non-smoking Dubai residents are exposed to passive smoking at work. The survey showed about 67 per cent of non-smoking Dubai residents are exposed to passive smoking at public places.
Meanwhile, DHA and the Heath Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) have launched a ‘Quit and Win' campaign, reports WAM. The authorities will choose 125 smokers from across the UAE and help them give up smoking. DHA and HAAD are spearheading the no-smoking campaign under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
WAM reported that Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat) will not sell cigarettes and other tobacco products in its various stores starting today.
View the original article here
No comments:
Post a Comment