Globally, many people do not understand that the long-term impact of tobacco consumption affects males and females differently. In many ways, it affects women more significantly than men.
According to experts, depending on the part of the body, while it may take months or years for the residue of tobacco (nicotine/cotinine) to clear from a man’s system, it can take even longer in women. For example, takes up to 12 months for the residue to clear from hair. Understandably, more women than men tend to maintain longer hair without frequent cuts.
Additionally, in women of reproductive age, it takes about 10 hours for the content to leave breast milk completely. Men don’t produce breast milk. Imagine the consequences for a baby breastfed by a mother addicted to tobacco.
Tobacco consumption goes beyond cigarettes. It includes shisha, snuff, dissolvable tobacco, and more. Nevertheless, cigarette smoking remains a global concern because while one individual may be a direct smoker (say a mother), others around them become second-hand smokers (the child).
It is bad that cigarettes contain around 7,000 chemicals, of which nearly 70 are carcinogenic (cancerous). Breast cancer is high and more prevalent in women, while prostate cancer is common among men.
Non-smokers are asking questions because they are helpless. Someone once asked, “What part of my fundamental human rights is my partner violating when he smokes at home, and what can I do?” This question sparked serious debate, as many people do not realize that smoking around others, especially women and children, can violate their fundamental rights. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, we often take these issues for granted.
Numerous reports have revealed that tobacco is responsible for many leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, mental health disorders, and various cancers.
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 30 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria are linked to NCDs. It is heartbreaking that tobacco use contributes significantly to these diseases; cardiovascular diseases leading with 11 per cent, followed by cancers at 4 per cent (including breast cancer).
Tobacco use affects women more than men because, the unborn child, children naturing, and care of the sick and the elderly are typically connected to women. Also , infertility, miscarriage, child deformity or child brain damage still have to do with the motherhood, especially women of reproductive age. It can lead to respiratory illness, poor concentration, addiction, infections and mental health challenges.
These can affect the ability of a woman to perform her biological and gender assigned roles. Meanwhile, while much research focuses on individuals aged 15–64, less attention is paid to effect of tobacco on the elderly. Yet it is an area that equally deserves more study. Noticeably, elderly women take snuff for different motives, including the wrong notion that it relieves them from low blood pressure.
Meanwhile, despite the health warnings issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) on tobacco packaging, addicted users continue to consume these products. The primary problem is that nicotine is highly addictive and responsible for many negative behaviors and health outcomes. Many risk factors of diseases are worsened by tobacco use, yet consumption remains high.
Older generations may not have noticed, but tobacco products today are often disguised in fancy or unconventional packaging that appeals to youth, especially young women and girls. Young girls might carry them in handbags. The products come with attractive scents and sometimes no visible smoke.
This deception calls for action to parents, mentors, neighbours, family members, religious and community leaders. The next time you see a youth with a sleek pen, small box, chewing stick/gum, be curious. It is also important to help addicts reduce exposure to environmental or peer-related triggers.
It is sad that tobacco products have remained legal in Nigeria and an outright manufacturing ban is unlikely in the near term. Additionally, critics argue that tobacco isn’t the only contributor to NCDs, because understandably, alcohol is another contributing factor.
These arguments, along with industry pushback, complicate the implementation of tobacco control measures. Taxation is a key tobacco control measure. But tobacco products like alcohol are classified under food and beverages, complicating efforts to regulate their pricing or imposition blanket taxes.
Advocacy, sensitization, and effective policy frameworks remain crucial. Unfortunately, policy formulation and implementation often overlook the gendered health implications of tobacco use.
Although there are fewer Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) involved in sensitizing the public about the dangers of tobacco consumption, they must continue advocating to policymakers and actively monitoring the policy implementation process to drive effective tobacco control.
Ogechi Obialo-Isuma writes from EIHAA Initiative in Abuja. She can be reached on Ogechi.obialo@gmail.com
