Prevalence of tobacco use among adults in South Africa: Results from the first South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
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Date
2015Author
Reddy, Priscilla
Zuma, Khangelani
Shisana, Olive
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Show full item recordAbstract
Smoking is one of the major preventable causes of
disease and premature death globally.[1] Tobacco is
the second leading risk factor for the global burden
of disease, accounting for 6.3% of disability-adjusted
life-years lost[2] and causing six million deaths
annually.[1] Since 1995 there has been a modest increase in tobacco
consumption in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs),
but a consistent decline in high-income countries (HICs).[3] By
2030 it is estimated that tobacco will kill more than eight million
people annually, with 80% of these deaths occurring in LMICs.[3]
Consumers in LMICs such as South Africa (SA) are likely to be less
informed about the adverse health consequences of tobacco use
than those in HICs, and are therefore likely to bear the major health
impact of tobacco unless an aggressive educational programme is
mounted.