The prevalence of present tobacco use and smoking amongst Filipinos aged 15 and above decreased in 2021 to 19.5% of the inhabitants or 15.1 million, in keeping with the outcomes of the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS).
At a press discussion board on Tuesday, Dr. Vito Roque Jr. of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau stated this was decrease than the prevalence in 2015 of 23.8%, which in flip was decrease than 2009’s prevalence of 29.7%.
Roque stated the publicity to secondhand smoke in properties and public locations additionally “significantly declined,” with the most important lower in publicity to secondhand smoke occurring in public transportation—from 55.3% in 2009 and 37.6% in 2015 all the way down to 12.2% in 2021.
The publicity to secondhand smoke in properties additionally declined from 54.4% in 2009 and 34.7% in 2015 to 21.4% in 2021, whereas within the office it fell from 22.6% in 2009 and 21.5% in 2015 to 12.9% in 2021.
The survey additionally confirmed that the stop price amongst previous 12-month people who smoke (or those that have reported smoking throughout the final 12 months) within the nation decreased from 4.5% in 2009 to three.9% in 2021.
However, the variety of grownup people who smoke interested by quitting due to well being warnings elevated from 37.4% in 2009 to 43.7% in 2021.
“Key results from 2009 to 2021 showed a favorable trend in the country’s initiative on tobacco prevention and control. Results show a consistent downward trend in tobacco use prevalence [and] exposure to secondhand smoke,” Roque stated.
“These successes may be attributed to the adoption and implementation of tobacco prevention and control health policies and interventions. The results also reflect the effectiveness of the enforced key policies on tobacco taxation, graphic health warnings, protection of bureaucracy against tobacco industry interference, and smoke-free environments,” he added.
He additionally stated the collective efforts and strengthened partnerships amongst authorities companies, not-government organizations, and stakeholders contributed to those outcomes.
2021 outcomes
Based on the 2021 GATS outcomes, one in each 5 Filipino adults or 15.1 million adults at the moment use tobacco, amongst whom the proportion of males (34.7%) who at the moment use tobacco was eight occasions greater than females (4.2%).
This means a drop of two.2 million people who smoke from the full of 17.3 million in 2002.
Meanwhile, a minimum of 11.2 million adults at the moment smoke every day, or about 14.5% of the grownup inhabitants. The share of male people who smoke who smoke every day (26.3%) is sort of 9 occasions greater than the proportion of ladies people who smoke who smoke every day (3.6%).
The common variety of cigarettes smoked per day amongst every day cigarette people who smoke was 10.5 sticks, with males smoking a every day common of 10.8 sticks and girls 6.7 sticks.
The survey stated that the general prevalence of the ever used e-cigarettes amongst all adults was 5.7%, whereas the present use of e-cigarettes was 2.1%.
It additionally confirmed that one in each 5 Filipino adults or 22.3% of every day people who smoke stop smoking in 2021. The proportion of feminine quitters was considerably greater with 34.2% than these of male with 20.9%.
More than half or 54.5% of those that visited a well being care supplier and admitted that they smoke tobacco had been suggested to stop smoking.
Among the explanations cited by people who smoke for making an attempt to stop smoking are well being causes (77.9%), to economize (68.6%), household (68.1%), excessive worth of cigarettes (68%), anti-smoking insurance policies (37.3%), considerations with COVID-19 (29.1%), and different causes (3.7%).
Raise taxes on tobacco
Roque known as to boost taxes on tobacco by the continued imposition of progressive tax measures on tobacco, vapor, and heated tobacco merchandise by utilizing an inflation rate-based tax index.
“Support measures that will impose excise taxes on novel tobacco products as well as the delivery devices of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products,” he stated.
He additionally stated that there’s a have to amend the nationwide laws to ban smoking and vaping inside enclosed public areas in addition to any house frequented by the youth.
Roque then known as to strengthen and institutionalize a complete nationwide therapy program for tobacco and vape dependence.
Meanwhile, Wilma S. Guillen, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Assistant National Statistician, stated GATS is a standardized world survey for systematically monitoring grownup tobacco and monitoring key tobacco management indicators.
She stated it’s a nationally consultant family survey of women and men adults aged 15 and above, utilizing constant and normal protocol throughout international locations, together with the Philippines.
“GATS enhances [the] country’s capacity to plan, implement, and evaluate tobacco control programs. It will also assist countries to fulfill their obligations under the World Health Organization framework convention on tobacco control to generate comparable data within and across countries,” she stated.
Guillen stated a minimum of 20,671 households for the entire nation had been chosen within the 2021 GATS. She stated every pattern family was visited and family members had been listed.
The fieldwork for 2021 GATS was carried out in coordination with the regional and provincial workplaces boards of PSA.
The GATS discipline operation was scheduled for a 28-day assortment interval from November 3 to December 4, 2021, in an oversample of 5 chosen cities that are Baguio City, Quezon City, General Santos City, Cebu City, and Zamboanga City. — BM, GMA Integrated News
