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The prevalence of smoking among young people has been reduced by 28% – Kyiv International Institute of Sociology

Analysts explain: the legislative control has been instrumental in reducing the prevalence of smoking among young Ukrainians.

On March 20, 2017, the results of the nation-wide survey concerning smoking in Ukraine have been presented; the survey has been conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

In 2017, the prevalence of smoking among the adult population of Ukraine amounted to 23.7%; while in 2013 – to 26.2%. Significant reduction of the prevalence of smoking has been observed among young people (aged 18-30): from 37% to 26.7%. That is, it has been reduced by 10.3% points, or by 28%.

"The study has shown that young people in Ukraine smoke less and less with each year. What is most important, they do not start smoking since this is not trendy anymore. The anti-tobacco laws that banned tobacco advertising and smoking in public places have played their role", – says Liliia Olefir, the NGO “Life” CEO.

This year's omnibus contained questions concerning smoking of specific tobacco products and nicotine delivery devices for the first time ever. The proportion of everyday smokers who smoked electronic cigarettes during last year amounted to 5.6% among men and 3.9% among women; the figures are, respectively, 7.7% and 6.8% as far as the hookah smoking is concerned. This study will form a reference point for the analysis of such devices' usage dynamics in Ukraine.

"It is important to note that it is the young age group within which the use of hookah and e-cigarettes is the most widespread. For the last 12 months, 14.4% of young people (aged 30 or younger) have reported hookah smoking, as compared with 6.3% of older smokers; as far as the e-cigarettes smoking is concerned, the reported figures amount to, respectively 14.1% of younger and 5.1% of older smokers. The newfangled smoking devices pose a threat to public health, since they provoke the start of smoking among young people. Therefore, these issues must be regulated at a state level", – noted Tetiana Andreieva, candidate of medical sciences, public health expert, chief editor of the "Tobacco Control and Public Health in Eastern Europe" international peer-reviewed journal.

The flavored cigarettes have been used by 10.6% of male smokers and 20.2% of female smokers during 2016. In addition to that, 76% of female smokers aged 30 and below have smoked flavored cigarettes at least once in their life.

"Only 9% of Ukrainian women smoke. Therefore, it is the female population that is targeted by tobacco industry in the most aggressive manner. For this, flavored cigarettes and brightly colored packs are designed, to mask the deadly risk of smoking. That is why I support my colleagues – the Members of Parliament – who have registered draft law No. 2820 aimed at banning the flavored cigarettes' sales in Ukraine. This will help, in the first place, to protect young girls from tobacco dependency", – pointed out Nataliia Veselova, Ukrainian MP.

During the omnibus, Ukrainians were also asked concerning their attitude towards the ban of shop window advertisement. The results have shown the following: 68% of survey participants support such a ban.

"Presently, the cigarettes are placed in the shop windows in such a manner that the attention of people – in particular, children, is attracted to them. For this purpose, bright lighting, enlarged packs and attractive colors are used. From the legislative point of view, this is not considered advertising; nevertheless, it stimulates tobacco sails. Such a "gray" promotion raises the risk of children starting smoking by 60%. We have registered draft law No. 4030a aimed at banning the cigarette packs placement at the shop windows. Such initiative will root out the point-of-sale tobacco advertisement completely", – says Kostiantyn Ishcheikin, Ukrainian MP.

The tendency of smoking prevalence reduction during the last years is positive, but not significant. To qualitatively overcome the situation, effective legislative measures should be taken; the cigarettes' appeal and availability in Ukraine should be reduced; also, the present smokers should be helped in overcoming the nicotine dependency. This is what the public health experts believe.

Reference information

The study has been conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology from January 31 till February 27 of 2017. The field stage lasted from February 10 till February 20, 2017. The survey has been conducted in 110 localities (PSU) in all the Regions of Ukraine, except for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. In Donetsk and Luhansk Regions, the surveys were conducted only at the territories controlled by the government of Ukraine. At the field stage, 2040 inquiry forms have been collected.

The statistical error of the selection (with the probability of 0.95, and the design effect of 1.5 taken into account) does not exceed: 3.3% for the indices close to 50%, 2.8% for the indices close to 25% or 75%, 2.0% for the indices close to 12% or 88%, 1.4% for the indices close to 5% or 95% and 0.7% for the indices close to 1% or 99%.

Contact information: Oksana Totovytska, media coordinator of the NGO “Life”. (063) 261-74-05, (044) 279-68-83, oksana@center-life.org.


20.3.2017
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