[Intl-tobacco] Malaysia: Number Of Smoking Women Jumps 100 Per Cent

[robert weissman]

June 27, 2006 21:34 PM  	 E-mail this news to a friend  Printable
version of this news
http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=205516

Number Of Smoking Women Jumps 100 Per Cent

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (Bernama) -- The number of smoking Malaysian women
jumped 100 per cent in 2003 compared to 1996, the Dewan Rakyat was told
Tuesday.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Health Ministry Lee Kah Choon said 2003
saw an eight per cent growth in the number of women smokers compared
with four per cent in 1996.

The statistics were based on the ministry's second National Health
Morbility survey in 1996 and a Universiti Putra Malaysia study in 2003.

The study also revealed that the increase in the number of women smokers
was noted in both rural and urban areas.

Lee said the ministry had identified four factors, namely physiology,
psychology, social and environment, to be the main influence that
promoted the smoking habit among the feminine gender.

Replying to a question from Datuk Goh Siow Huat (BN-Rasah), Lee said the
physiology factor influenced urban women to smoke as they thought the
habit promoted weight loss.

"The psychology factor is linked to image, addictive and to overcome low
self-esteem as the smokers isolated themselves and make cigarettes their
companion," Lee said.

He said a lot of women were also influenced by their peers and family
members who smoke.

Lee said the tobacco companies' aggressive promotional activities,
including handing out free cigarettes and sponsoring sports carnivals,
further worsened the situation.

-- BERNAMA