There are large differences between life expectancies in the former Soviet Union and those in western Europe. Smoking may be partly to blame. Yet tobacco control is not high on the policy agenda in countries such as Belarus. And the lack of data makes it difficult to know whom anti-smoking policies should target.

Research from the London School of Health and Tropical Medicine explores smoking behaviour in Belarus. It suggests that if current smoking patterns continue, tobacco will make an increasingly large contribution to the country’s high premature illness and death rates.

The influence of Western advertising is a key concern. Transnational tobacco companies have exploited the enormous potential of the previously closed Soviet market. Heavy marketing and advertising has prompted a rapid increase in smoking among young women and makes tobacco control increasingly difficult.

The study shows that levels of smoking among men in Belarus are as high as 53 percent. Analysis by age group shows far higher rates of smoking amongst young compared with older women. 28 percent of women aged 18 to 29 years are current or ex-smokers. Smoking is over nine times more common in this group than in women aged over 60.

Other key findings include:

• A high proportion of smokers light up in public places - 65 percent at work and 28 percent when travelling.
• 73 percent of smokers give habit as a reason for smoking. Over one third of male smokers and almost half of female smokers claim they smoke because it calms their nerves.
• 87 percent of non-smokers compared with only 48 percent of smokers believe smoking is definitely bad for health. A quarter of current smokers have a positive view of its impact.
• Common features of male smokers are a perceived lack of control over life, a deteriorating social position, conflict in family relations, unemployment in the last year and a positive attitude towards working in Western Europe.
• Urban living is the biggest risk factor for smoking among women. This probably reflects exposure to Western influences and advertising. Women in the largest cities are up to 13 times more likely to smoke than those living in rural areas.
• Smoking is also more common among women who are young, unskilled, unemployed in the last 12 months, separated, divorced or widowed.

Policy responses to the threat of tobacco in Belarus have been limited so far, but they are urgently needed if the impact of the epidemic is to be halted.

Policy recommendations include:

• banning advertising, sponsorship and the distribution of free products
• prohibiting smoking in public places
• reducing demand through improved health education and financial measures.

Source(s):
‘Prevalence and determinants of smoking in Belarus: A national household survey, 2000’, European Journal of Epidemiology 17: 245-253, by A. Gilmore, M. McKee and R. Rose, 2000
HINARI subscribers can access the full-text article here. Full document.

Funded by: UK Department for International Development

id21 Research Highlight: 08 May 2002

Further Information:
Anna Gilmore
European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Keppel Street
London WC1E 7HT
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7612 7809
Fax: +44 (0)20 7612 7812
Contact the contributor: anna.gilmore@lshtm.ac.uk

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK

Martin McKee
European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Keppel Street
London WC1E 7HT
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7927 8636
Fax: +44 (0)20 7580 8183
Contact the contributor: martin.mckee@lshtm.ac.uk

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