Rate of Cigarette Smokers in Rural Areas Is Higher than in Cities

Posted on 31 July 2008

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 571

“Phnom Penh: The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has become the first health treaty; it entered into force on 27 February 2005. To support this treaty, the Royal Government of Cambodia ratified it on 15 November 2005.

“According to a summary report for Cambodia about the use and the monitoring of tobacco, the percentage of smokers and the tendency to smoke cigarettes among men and women, at the age of 20: 53.9% of the men, and 6% of the women are smoking, while in general, more people in rural areas are smoking cigarettes than in cities.

“The same report continued to say that men at and over 40 smoke a lot of cigarettes; the age bracket of women with a high rate of smoking cigarettes is from 40 to 49. People start to smoke on the average from the age of 20. For tobacco a smoker spends approximately US$35.80 per year, and the annual expense of a family with cigarettes smokers is US$69.44 in Cambodia.

“A family in Phnom Penh, smoking cigarettes, spends 2.5% of their income, while in rural areas, a family spends 2.9%. In a family, one smoker spends about US$3 per month on average to buy cigarettes, and smokers smoke many cigarettes, starting from five minutes after getting up in the morning.

“Mr. Mom Kong, director of the Movement for Health in Cambodia, said that tobacco is an industrial crop which is planted in some provinces, such as Kompong Cham, Kandal, Prey Veng, and Kratie. About 90% of all tobacco plantations are in Kompong Cham. About 17,000 hectares are planted with tobacco, to produce cigarettes and for other uses, such as for [hand] turned cigarettes, and tobacco to be smoked in pipes.

“Mr. Mom Kong added that there are more than 200 types of cigarettes, including local cigarettes and cigarettes imported from foreign countries, which are sold on the markets. There are different types of cigarettes, from France, China, Japan, England, the United Sates of America, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. He continued that [hand] turned cigarettes are used most, by 29% of the smokers, following by Khmer cigarettes at 24%, and then Parrot Cigarettes at 14%. Parrot Cigarettes is the most popular cigarette brand in the cities. Smokers in rural areas smoke local cigarettes, because their income is lower and cigarettes from foreign countries are expensive.

“Mr. Mom Kong mentioned that to be successful in controlling the use of tobacco, the Royal Government should draft anti-tobacco laws soon. These laws should be in accordance with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and should have clear regulations to prohibit the tobacco industry not to interfere with this policy, recognizing the strategic role of advertisements for marketing, and of the promotional efforts by the tobacco industry, aiming to promote addiction to nicotine. To counter the marketing strategies of the tobacco industry, presenting advertisements to all citizens, the Royal Government should introduce a total ban on tobacco advertising immediately, as well as stop sponsorships by the tobacco industry to protect the citizens, especially the youth.”

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1706, 30.7.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:Wednesday, 30 July 2008