Smoking in Haiti
In Haiti, cigarettes are legally allowed for sale and smoke. The regulatory framework does not require health warnings on cigarette packaging, has no minimum age restrictions on sales, and does not impose legal restrictions on smoking in public places. The product can be legally imported for trade with a license and purchased through online channels and vending machines. There is no comprehensive ban on all forms of tobacco advertising in place. Cigarettes are not subject to an excise tax but total taxation rate of 27.13% is enforced. The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among individuals aged 15 years and older in Haiti was estimated to be 7.3% in 2024 according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This figure reflects a slight increase from the 6.9% reported in 2020, but a decrease from the 8.5% recorded in 2019. The current smoking prevalence among adult males was 12.6% in 2024, whereas among females it was 2.3%. This gender disparity in smoking prevalence persisted over the years, with males consistently showing higher rates—11.2% in 2020 and 13.5% in 2019. The number of smokers in 2024 was approximately 578,000 indicating a rise from 515,117 smokers recorded in 2020, but a decrease from 631,176 smokers in 2019. For reference, daily smoking prevalence among adults in 2017 was 8.9%, with a prevalence of 16.1% among adult males and 2.1% among adult females. In terms of mortality, smoking-related deaths accounted for 2.24% of all deaths in the country in 2021. This represents 2,934 deaths attributed to tobacco smoking. Gender-specific data show that 2.82% of these deaths were among males and 1.59% among females. These statistics underscore the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Haiti, necessitating sustained public health efforts to reduce smoking prevalence and associated mortalities.
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December 14, 2023 by biomedcentral.com
Tobacco use in Haiti: findings from demographic and health survey
Although tobacco has harmful effects on the physical and mental health of individuals, its use remains significant, according to the World Health Organization. To understand this phenomenon, studies have been carried out in many countries around the world, while in Haiti where more than 5,000 people die each year due to tobacco use, little is known about the use of this substance. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and the factors associated with tobacco use in Haiti.