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Tobacco use decreases in Vietnam, but survey underlines continued need for tobacco control

Vital Strategies acknowledges progress post-GATS fieldwork, including mass media campaigns to increase knowledge about tobacco’s harms and an initiative to promote smoke-free homes and public places

(September 6, 2016, Hanoi, Vietnam and New York, USA) – Global public health experts Vital Strategies today welcomed the publication of the Vietnam Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2015, which shows a 1.3 percent drop in smoking prevalence between 2010 and 2015. Vital Strategies also joins calls for stronger tobacco control to accelerate progress in addressing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s continuing tobacco epidemic and resulting burden of preventable disease, disability and premature death.

The GATS report shows that almost 16 million Vietnamese adults, including 45.3 percent of men and 1.1 percent of women, currently smoke tobacco. There has been a positive decline in exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) following the implementation of the 2012 National Tobacco Control Law, which mandates smoke-free public places. Between 2010 and 2015 SHS exposure in the workplace fell from 55.9 percent to 42.6 percent, in universities from 54.3 percent to 37.9 percent, on public transportation from 34.4 percent to 19.4 percent, and in schools from 22.3 percent to 16.1 percent. Exposure to SHS in the home decreased from 73.1 percent to 59.9 percent, but remains unacceptably high in restaurants (80.7 percent) and in bars, café’s and teashops (89.1 percent).  The Survey also found that nearly two-thirds (65.4 percent) of adults support an increase in taxes on tobacco products.

Vital Strategies acknowledges the Ministry of Health for this positive progress as well as further initiatives that have been implemented since the Survey was completed. There are now more sustained public education campaigns to support enforcement of Vietnam’s smoke-free laws and an innovative, major initiative from the Ministry of Health and Vietnam Women’s Union is underway to encourage women to create smoke-free homes and support smoke-free public places. The Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund has run graphic, hard-hitting mass media campaigns to increase knowledge about the harms of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, in order to support those policies and initiatives. 

Dr. Tom Carroll, Senior Advisor, Policy and Communications, Vital Strategies said: “This GATS report contains encouraging news on reduced exposure to secondhand smoke, but also underlines the urgent need to address Vietnam’s tobacco epidemic, which is creating a costly burden of tobacco-related preventable disease, disability and premature death. To the Government’s credit, it has set targets to reduce prevalence – but it will need to strengthen implementation and enforcement of its smoke free tobacco control policies to meet those targets. Critically, in addition, tobacco taxes and prices require urgent attention. Cigarettes in Vietnam are among the cheapest in the region, when high prices are the single most effective way of deterring youth smoking initiation and encouraging smokers to cut down and quit. This survey indicates that nearly two-thirds of adults support higher tobacco taxes.

“Much more also needs to be done to increase knowledge about the deadly harms of tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke. Greater use of attitude-shifting, culturally relevant mass media campaigns will help to build support for tobacco control policies and encourage behavior change. Delivering these policies would have a real impact on reducing smoking prevalence and protecting the health and welfare of Vietnam’s people. We stand ready to play our part in continuing to support the Ministry of Health, Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund and the Vietnam Women’s Union in their important work.”

The burden of tobacco use in Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the 15 low- and middle-income countries with the highest smoking rates in the world. According to The Tobacco Atlas, tobacco is responsible for 22 percent of adult male deaths and 9.5 percent of adult female deaths in Vietnam – killing 72,800 people each year – more than the average in other middle-income countries. More women die from tobacco-related disease in Vietnam (9.5 percent) than smoke cigarettes, suggesting that women suffer a disproportionate burden of illness and premature death from exposure to secondhand smoke. 

On January 25, 2013, the Vietnamese government approved the National Strategy on Tobacco Control to 2020, which calls for reductions in smoking among teens (from 26 percent to 18 percent), male adults (from 47.4 percent to 39 percent), and female adults (to less than 1.4 percent). 

About Vital Strategies

Vital Strategies envisions a world where every person is protected by a strong public health system.  Our team combines evidence-based strategies with innovation to help develop sound public health policies, manage programs efficiently, strengthen data systems, conduct research, and design strategic communication campaigns for policy and behavior change.  Vital Strategies was formed when The Union North America and World Lung Foundation joined forces.  It is an affiliate of The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

To find out more, please visit vitalstrategies.org or Twitter @VitalStrat

For further information or to arrange an interview with a Vital Strategies public health and tobacco control expert, please contact Tracey Johnston, Vital Strategies, at +44.7889.081.170 or tjohnston@vitalstrategies.org