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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
Doha
There's a significant drop in the use of tobacco among students in the 13-15 year age group, a new study released by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has revealed.
According to The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), the prevalence of tobacco use among students in Qatar is 12.1 percent (15.7 percent boys and 8.7 percent girls).
The prevalence was 20 percent in 2004, 17.9 percent in 2007, 15 percent in 2013 and has come down to 12.1 percent in 2018.
A total of 2, 328 students in grades 7-9 took part in survey of which 1,608 were aged between 13 and 15 years. The survey is done every five years.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the results of the survey on Sunday, Director of Public Health Department Sheikh Dr Mohammed al Thani said taxes on tobacco products and aerated drinks will go up in Qatar very soon.
"We are waiting for the right time to impose high taxes on tobacco and soda drinks. This can happen anytime. The decision will be made by the Cabinet and the Ministry of Finance."
According to the survey, 11.3 percent of students (15 percent of boys and 7.8 percent girls) use electronic cigarettes.
"The survey included Qataris as well as non-Qataris. A number of the girls who smoke are non-Qataris mostly those from Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine because it is easier for them to start smoking at this age. A detailed survey showing the prevalence among different nationalities living in Qatar will be announced later."
According to the survey, 10.7 percent of students currently smoke tobacco, 6.6 percent smoke cigarettes while 4.5 of the students use smokeless tobacco.
The survey showed that 54.3 percent of the cigarette smokers bought cigarettes from a store or shop (grocery), street vendor, kiosk or cafeteria. Among the current cigarette smokers who tried to buy the cigarette, 69.1 percent were not prevented from buying them because of their age.
In addition, 24.5 percent of the students were exposed to tobacco smoke at home while 41.8 percent inside enclosed public place.
Specialist Physician of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Public Health Department Dr Amani Elkhatim said this was the fourth round of the survey and the previous surveys were done in 2004, 2007, 2013 and 2018.
"Qatar has proved to be one of the best countries that have made this commitment. In comparison with the last three surveys, the prevalence has reduced and it is going down in a drastic way. It was 20 percent in 2004 and now we have reached 12 percent which is among the best in the world and actually the best in the GCC in ranks," Dr Elkhatim said.
According to the survey, more than five in 10 of current tobacco smokers tried to stop smoking in the past 12 months.
"The quitting rate is not as expected and it is less than previous years. We need to start developing strategies to attract this group to avail the cessation services that are available," said Dr Elkhatim.
She added,"The community needs to participate. If one sees someone violating the law, they have to report on the hotline-50302001, which works 24 hours.
"If the inspection team gets a call and there is someone close to that location they go there. In general, it's not about arresting the one violating the rule, it's all about putting on the spotlight the violating shop selling tobacco to the minor and this is happening a lot."
According to the survey, 46.2 percent of the students noticed anti-tobacco messages in the media; 28.3 percent of them noticed tobacco advertisements or promotions when visiting points of sale.
When it comes to knowledge and attitudes, 55.6 percent of the students thought other people's smoking was harmful to them, and 71.5 percent of students favoured prohibiting smoking inside enclosed public places.
"The Public Health Department is committed to targeting this age group to continue reducing the prevalence, increase the participation in the quitting service, to enhance their family and community support when it comes to implementing the law; do more researches when it comes to understanding how we can prevent them from starting," said Dr Elkhatim.
