The Increase in Female Smoking - Research Paper Example

 The Increase in Female Smoking Outline of Increase in Female Smoking 1.Introduction Thesis Statement: Although men have high prevalence in smoking, there has been a significant increase in female smoking among the middle and lower class females. 2.Increase in Female Smoking is a serious health concern more than men .The increase in smoking among female aged 15-49 years. . Reproductive health concern for maternal-child health during and after pregnancy. .Rates of smoking is on increase across the developing countries, while it appears to decline in developed countries. 3 There has been high rates of female smoking in U.S as compared to other countries nut the rates are slowly declining. . High school girls are the highest casualties of female smoking . Initial female smoking was at rate of 18.3% as compared to men 24.8%, however, there has been a steady decline. . Increase in anti-tobacco campaigns led to increase in awareness of the effects of female smoking. 4. Smoking and Pregnancy . In U.S, 10.7% of pregnant mothers reported having smoked, according to Obstretic report 2006. . Racial risk-analysis among the U.S female citizens. . High rates of Infant risks of asthma and other obstructive diseases linked to female smoking. 5. Dangers of female smoking on their health. . W.H.O Report on female smoking 2012 . Increase in obstructive diseases such as emphysema,, chronic bronchitis and other obstructive diseases. . Effects of cigarette smoking among post-menopausal women. 6. Conclusion Increase in Female Smoking Introduction World Health Organization (WHO) identifies tobacco smoking as traditionally a habit that is common among men. While the habit among women remains lower as compared to men, the prevalence is projected that it will increase among the lower and middle-income earners in the United States. Today, cigarette smoking contributes in over 80% of lung cancer disease and deaths (Craig 2008). In the wake of modern times, the health sector faces a big challenge in combating the increasing cases of smoking in both male and women. Besides, the increase in smoking among women has significantly impaired maternal and infant health among women of reproductive age. Smoking among women is directly responsible for a number of infant deaths in developing countries. The worldwide estimates that women are five times less likely to smoke as compared to men. However, the fear of increasing smoking among women has continued to raise concern for the future maternal-child health. While female smoking directly appears to affect the smokers' health, it is crucial that the effect of tobacco among women aged 15-49 years poses greater risks to the health during pregnancy. The rates of smoking among female varies significantly across developing and developed nations. The rates of smoking females in developed countries are declining while those in developing countries appear to be on the increase. Today, female smoking is a major health concern in obstetrics and reproductive health. In this study, the focus on increasing rates among female will form the central theme. Besides, The Causes Of This Habit And Impact On The Female Physical And Reproductive Health will significantly feature. Sadly, there has been few researches on this increasing rate. The focus on this topic will help shed light on the health concerns and possibly provides suggestions that would ensure that the health of the women is protected. Literature Review The increase in smoking among female is a critical health and government concern in America and the entire globe. According to 2008 Tobacco Use Report, 21.1 million (18.3%) of women were smokers as compared to 24.8 (23.1%) men (Pampel 2009). The gap between the two categories approximately presents a population whose both male and female are equally smokers. One of the astonishing findings of the e-cigarette smoking is that it causes lung-related cancers easily as compared to men. Besides, in 1987 lung cancer surpassed breast cancer in causing deaths among the women. Cigarette smoking, therefore, presents a larger health burden to women as compared to men (Craig 2008). Female Smoking in U.S Although, statistics show a decrease in female smokers in the United States and across countries, it surprisingly highlight female smoking to be relatively high in the United States as compared to developing countries. There was a significant 37% decline in smoking rates among the high school girls between 1999-2003; however, the rate appears to have reduced significantly leading to a 2.3% decline between 2003-2007 (Payne 2013). The reason given for the initial sharp decline (1999-2003) was an increase in anti-tobacco campaigns during that period (Morgan 2013). Besides, anti-drug inclusion into the curriculum helped to reduce the adventurous smoking by high school female students. In addition, the racial findings identify the white middle, high school students as the vulnerable group (Payne 2013). Smoking and Pregnancy According to United States Obstetrics 2006, there was 10.7% of women who smoked during pregnancy (Craig 2008). This was certainly a huge reduction as compared t 1990 over 50% of smoking during pregnancy. According to this reports 13.9% of these smokers were non-Hispanic whites as compared to 8.5% non-Hispanic blacks (Craig 2008). The report findings identified cultural and racial orientation as a key component in determining risk-analysis findings. In addition, teenagers are the highest culprits since they undergo serious group pressure in school and outside school. While they are in adventurous party spree majority of them engage in experimental smoking until they become addicted. Controlling tobacco addiction remains a greatest challenge within and outside health department. Additionally, since 1990s teenagers and young adults have been the highest victim of smoking during pregnancy (Craig 2008). As noted earlier, the impact of nicotine content to growing infant poses serious physical and neurological development. In fact, cigarette smoking remains prevalent among the teenage and young adult pregnant mothers. In 2005, for instance, 16.6% of pregnant smokers were female aged 15-19 and consequently 18.6% of female aged 20-24 had smoking experience during pregnancy (W.H.O Female Smoking Statistics website). Maternal smoking has also been linked to higher infant risk to asthma among children and infants. The probability of an infant or a child whose mother smokes 10 or more cigarettes a day to develop asthma is twice that of non-smoker. It is sad that the increase in smoking continues to increase children and infants vulnerability to obstructive diseases. The importance of anti-smoking campaign, especially during pregnancy has been emphasized through medical and commercial advertisement in mass media. In the United States, a total of over $366 million is spent on rehabilitating neonates born of smoking mothers every year (Payne 2013). In other words, each smoking mother spends $740 this is huge money that would have been spent to grow the economy. The most preferred way to reverse these severe effects of smoking on women is to quit smoking or resort to electronic cigarettes that are safer and protective against obstructive diseases. Dangers of Cigarette Smoking on Women Smoking and tobacco use today poses greater risks to the overall health of women. According to World Health Organization (WHO) 2012 Report, cigarette smoking kills 173,940 women every year in the United States (Payne 2013). Certainly, this is a very high number of people to be lost. Besides, the majority of these casualties are of reproductive age. The female smoking increase is considered more harmful than male smoking because the effect of smoking goes beyond the woman's health. The health of babies of smoking mothers is, usually, compromised. When a pregnant woman smokes, it inhibits the normal development of growing neonate resulting in low birth weight and compromised immunity of the child. In addition, there is 13 times risk of diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis many other diseases among women than men (Rose et al,.2011). It is, therefore, worrying when the rates of female smokers keep increasing in developing countries while the health reality remains undesirable. Smoking is a direct causal agent of over 90% of obstructive pulmonary diseases, in fact, in 2009 an estimated 70,490 women died of bronchial and lung cancer in the United States (Morgan 2013). In addition, in 2006, 52% of COPD deaths were women, out of which 86% had a history of cigarette smoking (Craig 2008). The effects of smoking affect not only women of reproductive age, but also postmenopausal women since it lowers their bone density and subsequent risk of fractures. The sad reality about women increasing use of cigarette is that 92.1% are aware of the effects. It is, therefore, difficult to curb this menace while majority deliberately continue to indulge in this habit. Certainly, tobacco smoking is a primary challenge to most of these smokers. Discussion The increase in women's smoking gains attention around 1990s and has continued to date. Notably, following the Surgeon General Report (SGR) in as early as 1964 identified women smoking as a recipe for health woes that goes beyond health system control. A study conducted by the surgeon was informed by the trend when tobacco industries began to market their products to unsuspecting women. Later in 1980s, the United States department of health and WHO woke up to the reality of new lung disease changes in the pattern and epidemiological description (Patrick 2013). Craig (2008) states that the beginning of the 21st Century in the U.S saw 22.8% of women smoking. As compared to 1990s, there was a remarkable reduction; the high numbers remain appalling to the health of the country. Arguably, the increase in marketing and advertisements of cigarettes and tobacco products in 1980s and early 1990s are the greatest contributors of this high number of women smokers. However, the 1998 Settlement Agreement slightly helped to regulate the use of cigarettes among teenagers and young adult females who had naively engaged due to appealing advertisements (Rose et al,. 2011). The first decade of the 21st century, there has been incredibly high number of smoking regulation that has discouraged mass smoking (Pampel 2009). These measures were designed following an increasing trend of public smoking and minors increased tendencies to the habit. However, tobacco companies continue to be creative in presenting their products. For instance, RJ Reynolds cigarettes entered the market with feminine features that include pink edging as a unique packaging strategy to influence female smokers. However, there has been increased legislation and policies that cities, states, organizations and institution have crafted to discourage public smoking. With this growing public health phenomenon, there has been an approximate reduction of female smoking from 46% in 1950s to 21% in 2004 (U.S Female Smoking Statistics website). While smoking appears a social habit that is mostly male-dominated, the sad reality of female involvement has helped shape maternal-neonatal health policies and antenatal care. Woodruff et al,. (2010) agrees that there has been certainly a substantial increase in women smokers in developing countries, while the United States statistics indicate a slower rate of decline. Notably, initially the U.S women had the highest number of cigarette smokers, although the numbers presents a steadily declining rate, the 21% smoking women as compared to approximately 24% men remains undesirably high. In the wake of 21st century, there has been a call on the women to quit or embark on electronic cigarette that is safer than conventional cigarettes. The call to quit smoking serves to reduce the high cases of lung cancer disease and deaths among women. Additionally, the increasing number of female smoking presents a compounded health challenge to both the mother and neonates among the women of reproductive age. Besides, statistics show that a high number of teenagers and young adult females continue to smoke at rate of approximately 20% in the U.S (Payne 2013). The health of the future generation relies heavily on this group. There is, therefore, need to embark on a campaign to discourage excessive tobacco smoking during pregnancy and beyond. In addition, the use of alternate smoking strategies like e-cigarettes is desirable to tobacco-addicts. Besides, the harmful effects of cigarettes would be greatly increased if the state governments draft a law that would restrict the age of smoking to above legal age. With open policies that allow even teenagers to indulge in smoking, the country will lose its population to obstructive diseases and lung cancers. In total regard to the physical and health hazards that cigarette smoking poses to the infants and children, the need to bring down the number o female smokers through policy and legislation should be put in place. Although, any legislation prohibiting smoking during pregnancy would be seen as bias against pregnant mothers and women it is worth its purpose. Conclusion The increase in smoking among females in developing countries. Statistics show a relative slow decline in the U.S, however; the numbers still remain alarming. However, there are few strategies to reverse this trend and eradicate smoking among women. There is an urge to invest in studies that would save the both women and men from unforgiving lung diseases. References Craig, T. (2008). Health effects of cigarette smoking (Updated Jan. 2008. ed.). Atlanta, Ga.: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health. Jerry, T. (2013, December 6). Female Smoking. U.S Statistics. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://www.bnm-medical.com/USER-FILES/docs/stat/bulgaria.pdf Morgan, N. (2013, July 19). New WHO report on e-cigarettes. WHO. Retrieved September 28, 2014, from http://www.who.int/tobacco/en/ Pampel, F. C. (2009). Tobacco industry and smoking (Rev. ed.). New York: Facts On File, An imprint of Infobase Pub.. Patrick, C. (2013, September 28). Searches in DE on 20-04-2013 - QueenTorrent.com. Searches in DE on 20-04-2013 - QueenTorrent.com. Retrieved September 26, 2014, from http://www.queentorrent.com/insights/de/20-04-2013.html Payne, W. A., & Hahn, D. B. (2013). Understanding your health (12th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Rose, A., Fagan, P., Lawrence, D., Hart, A., Shavers, V. L., & Gibson, J. T. (2011). The Role of Worksite and Home Smoking Bans in Smoking Cessation Among U.S. Employed Adult Female Smokers. American Journal of Health Promotion, 26(1), 26-36. Woodruff, S. I., Conway, T. L., Shillington, A. M., Clapp, J. D., Lemus, H., & Reed, M. B. (2010). Cigarette smoking and subsequent hospitalization in a cohort of young U.S. Navy female recruits. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 12(4), 365-373. Read More