WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY: A CHALLENGE FORWOMEN'SHEALTH

Abstract

Who has called for worldwide action to reduce tobacco use by women on May 31, "World No Tobacco Day." Tobacco use by women is fast closing the gender gap, for example smoking prevalence is 39% in women compared to 41% in men in Europe. In Mexico and Brazil, 44 and 53% of women smoke, compared to 31 and 24% in the UK and the US. Tobacco related disease is increasing: lung cancer in women now ranks 1st in the US and Scotland in cancer mortality, displacing breast cancer. Cardiovascular disease risk is 10 times higher among young women who smoke as well as use oral contraceptives than among those who use neither. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality for women in tropical South America, and is closely associated with smoking. The tobacco industry officially claims that it is not aiming advertising at young women, yet its trade press describes the 3 "L's" of length, low tar and low cost, in the brands specifically marketed toward women, Virginia Slims in the U.S., Kim in Europe, Alpine in Australia and Charm in Brazil. Research on the reasons why women smoke has revealed that young women do so to keep slim. Low income and extra responsibilities for childcare are associated with smoking among British women, not emancipation, as implied by tobacco ads. Women also smoke to relieve emotional stress, and perceive themselves as more dependent on smoking than do men, possibly reflecting learned helplessness.