Abstract
BackgroundIn 2009, 48% of males aged 15 or over in Mongolia consumed tobacco, placing Mongolia among the countries with the highest prevalence of male smokers in the world. Importantly, tobacco use is one of the four major risk factors contributing to the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – the leading cause of mortality in Mongolia. However, the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the Mongolian population with regards to smoking are largely unmeasured. In this context, a national NCDs knowledge, attitudes and practices survey focusing, among other things, on NCD risk factors was implemented in Mongolia in late 2010 to complement the previous WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance Survey (STEPS) findings from 2009. This publication explores the smoking-related findings of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey (KAPS).MethodsA nationally representative sample size was calculated using methodologies aligned with the WHO STEPS surveys. As a result, 3450 people from across Mongolia were selected using a multi-stage, random cluster sampling method from permanent residents aged between 15 and 64 years. The KAP survey questionnaire was interviewer-administered on a door-to-door basis.ResultsIn Mongolia at 2010, 46.3% of males and 6.8% of females were smokers. This practice was especially dominant among males and urban dwellers (MOR 2.2), and more so among the middle-aged (45–54) (MOR 2.1) while still displaying a high prevalence among Mongolian youth (15.5%). The probability of smoking was independent of the level of education. Although the level of awareness of the health hazards related to tobacco smoking was generally very high in the population, this was influenced by the level of education as more people with a primary and secondary level of education believed that smoking at least one pack of cigarette per day was required to harm one’s health (MOR 5.8 for primary education and 2.5 for secondary). Finally, this knowledge did not necessarily translate into a behavioural outcome as 15.5% of the population did not object to people smoking in their house, and especially so among males (MOR 4.1).ConclusionThe findings of this KAP survey corroborate the 2009 WHO STEPS Survey findings with regards to the prevalence of tobacco smoking in Mongolia. It identifies males, urban dwellers and Mongolian youth as groups that should be targeted by public health measures on tobacco consumption, while keeping in mind that higher levels of awareness of the harms caused by tobacco smoking do not necessarily translate into behavioural changes.
Highlights
In 2009, 48% of males aged 15 or over in Mongolia consumed tobacco, placing Mongolia among the countries with the highest prevalence of male smokers in the world
As a step in identifying gaps that might contribute to the high prevalence of tobacco consumption in Mongolia and second, as a reference to contextualise our research results and suggest other or new public health measures
In light of the existing policies on tobacco consumption and their degree of reinforcement in Mongolia, the findings of this research allows the formulation of further recommendations for Public Health practice with proven efficacy, especially targeting three populations: Mongolian men, urban Mongolians and Mongolian youth (Table 5). This KAP Survey confirms the findings of the 2009 STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) Survey and complements knowledge around the drivers of smoking in Mongolia
Summary
In 2009, 48% of males aged 15 or over in Mongolia consumed tobacco, placing Mongolia among the countries with the highest prevalence of male smokers in the world. Tobacco consumption kills almost 6 million people each year, and is expected to kill 8 million per year by 2030 if the current trend of increasing global tobacco consumption remains unaddressed [1] Of these deaths, 600 000 are attributable to second-hand smoke only [1]. Most of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where over 80% of the world’s one billion smokers resides [1] One of these middle-income countries, Mongolia, is burdened by a high prevalence of tobacco consumption that is contributing to the increase of non-communicable diseases, the leading cause of death in the country. As a step in identifying gaps that might contribute to the high prevalence of tobacco consumption in Mongolia and second, as a reference to contextualise our research results and suggest other or new public health measures
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