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  • Title: Smoking and health in Asia.
    Journal: WHO Chron; 1982; 36(4):156-9. PubMed ID: 7147931.
    Abstract:
    71% of men and 20% of women of the lower socioeconomic class in Bangladesh are smokers. 83% of people in the lower classes smoke bidis rather than the more expensive cigarette. Bidis constitute a big cottage industry, employing 250,000 workers, including children, for a daily production of 250 million pieces. The bidis industry provides the Bangladesh government with US$23.3 million a year. Smoking control activities in Bangladesh are limited to a ban on smoking in cinemas and public places; articles and advertisements against smoking appear from time to time. In the Henan province of China 56% of the male population and 1% of the female population smoke. In Beijing 24% of boys under 18 are smokers. Chinese cigarettes have a high nicotine content. Smoking is banned in most public places and its health hazards are discussed by doctors at public meetings and in the mass media. 80% of the tobacco grown in India is consumed locally. Cigarette smoking predominates in the cities, especially among white-collar workers, while smoking of bidis predominates in other areas and among other social groups. Indian legislation makes health warnings compulsory on all cigarette packets, and smoking is prohibited in most public places. The importance of tobacco cultivation in India is a major obstacle to the implementation of an antismoking prgram. Sulpa is the most common form of smoking among 85% of men and 72% of women in rural Nepal; cigarette smoking is prevalent in Katmandu, where the prevalence of smoking is 65% among males and 14% among females. There is no specific legislation on control of smoking. Tobacco growing is an important source of revenue for the Pakistani government; annual production of tobacco is 70-80 million kg, of which 85% is consumed within the country. In 1980-81 total cigarette production reached 38,800 million pieces, a significant increase from 1970-71. Total cigarette consumption during the last 5 years has shown an average growth of 8% annually. The government sponsors a program for smoking control; health warnings are printed on all cigarette packets, smoking is prohibited in public places, and articles on the danger of smoking appear often. Smoking is very common in the Philippines where tobacco consumption is the 2nd source of government revenue. An antismoking campaign has been launched by the National Cancer Central Center, and it is fully supported by the mass media. Tobacco consumption has risen by 8% in Sri Lanka in the past years, and about 48% of males and 2% of females over 15 are smokers. The ill effects of smoking in Sri Lanka have already been documented. There is a health warning on cigarette packets, and smoking is forbidden in certain public places. The lack of strong smoking control action is explained in part by the fact that government revenues from tobacco products are very high. About 1/5 of the Thailand population smokes an average of 10 cigarettes a day. Smoking related diseases have been on the increase in recent years. Smoking is banned in most public places, and a health warning is printed on cigarette packets.
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