Women and smoking

Abstract

Smoking kills over half a million women each year and is the most important preventable cause of female premature death in several developed countries. However, in many countries, cigarette smoking still tends to be regarded as a mainly male problem. This paper explores the reasons why more attention needs to be paid to issues around smoking and women, even in countries which currently have low levels of female cigarette smoking. The article includes an overview of current patterns and trends of smoking among women, and the factors which influence smoking uptake and cessation in women compared to men. The experience of countries with the longest history of widespread female smoking is used to identify some of the key challenges facing developed and developing countries. Tobacco companies have identified women as a key target group, therefore particular attention is given to the ways in which they have attempted to reach women through advertising and other marketing strategies. It is concluded that in order to halt and ultimately reverse the tobacco epidemic among women, tobacco control policies need to encompass both gender-specific and gender-sensitive approaches. Examples are given of the types of action that are needed in relation to research, public policy and legislation, and education.

Factors associated with cessation of smoking among Swiss adults between 1991 and 2011: results from the SAPALDIA cohort

“…Overall, men had a higher proportion of current smokers over time than women, but the sex difference decreased over time. Our findings of a decreasing smoking trend in both men and women with a slower decrease rate among women are in agreement with other studies in high-income countries [14][15][16][17], where this is described as a consequence of the later adoption of smoking as a widespread habit by women. Reasons for this time lag include multiple sociocultural factors such as social disapproval of female smoking in the early twen- ) and SAPALDIA3 (2010/11) associated with SF36-scores of "social functioning" and "energy and vitality" are adjusted for age, sex, study area, civil status, educational level, nationality, BMI, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, number of cigarettes smoked per day, alcohol consumption, physical activity, new dog ownership, presence of chronic cough, chronic phlegm and asthma, depression, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and pulmonary function.…”

“…Across the three surveys of SAPALDIA in 1991, 2002 and 2010/11, both genders showed an increasing proportion of former smokers and a decreasing prevalence of current smoking. This trend was previously reported in another Swiss study [6], as well as in other countries such as Spain [14], the UK and Australia [15]. Overall, men had a higher proportion of current smokers over time than women, but the sex difference decreased over time.…”

“…tieth century, gender role norms, less employment among females and a higher religious commitment in women [18]. Possible causes of this closing gap between females and males, recently described in the WHO bulletin [19], include increasing societal tolerance toward smoking women [15], growing economic resources among women and the tobacco industry's targeting of women by featuring smoking as a symbol of independence and social desirability [20,21].…”

Prevalencia de tabaquismo y bajo desempeño escolar, en estudiantes de 11 a 24 años de edad del estado de Morelos, México

“…[20][21][22] Además, se realizó un análisis estratificado por las siguientes variables: edad (11-12, 13-14, 15-17 y 18-24 años); índice de nivel socioeconómico (bajo, medio y alto); lugar de residencia (rural, semiurbana y urbana); intoxicación aguda por alcohol al menos una vez al mes (no, sí); consumo de alguna droga ilegal en el pasado o actual (no, sí); así como antecedente de consumo de tabaco en el padre (no, sí), y en la madre (no, sí).…”

Pattern of clinical presentation of hypopharyngeal carcinoma

“…Cases of hypopharyngeal cancer among women are currently more likely to be associated with excessive use of alcohol and tobacco, rather than by deficiency diseases. 6,7,8 In the United States and Canada, 65% to 85% of hypopharyngeal carcinoma involve the pyriform sinuses, 10% to 20% involve the posterior pharyngeal wall, and 5% to 15% involve the postcricoid area. 9 Pyriform sinus and postcricoid carcinomas are typically flat plaques with raised edges and superficial ulceration.…”