Women and children exposed to tobacco are more likely than men to develop coronary heart disease over their lifetimes — as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Additionally, exposure to tobacco through smoking or passive smoking imposes female-specific health concerns for women and children. Pregnant women and their unborn babies are also at risk of tobacco harm.

Men remain the majority of smokers: the 2016 South African Demographics Survey shows that more men smoke than women, with 8% of women older than 15 using tobacco products, while 37% of men do. [...]