Study: Tobacco endangers “Third World” women

Women in underdeveloped countries are under increasing danger from tobacco use according to a National Institute of Health (NIH) study. The comprehensive report interviewed roughly 8000 women in developing countries worldwide and does not present a very rosy picture for Latin American women:

"Latin America is where the epidemic of cigarette smoking is most advanced, particularly in Uruguay, where 78 percent of all pregnant women said they had ever tried a cigarette," [researcher Dr. Michele] Bloch said in a telephone interview.

In Argentina, she said 75 percent of pregnant women interviewed said they had tried smoking.

All of the Latin American sites studied found large numbers of women who had experimented with smoking. Bloch said she thinks that as more cultural and economic barriers to women's smoking fall, more of these women will become regular smokers.

The study’s findings come on the heels of a harsh smoking ban passed this week in Mexico as well as other recent bans in countries like Uruguay. Yet the report seems to show that bans are not enough and stronger public heath efforts are needed.

Sources- ScienceDaily, Reuters Africa, Houston Chronicle, the Latin Americanist

Image- BBC News