National survey reveals high tobacco use among Jordanians, urges stronger anti-smoking measures

AMMAN – A national survey on tobacco use among adults aged 15 years and older in Jordan on Tuesday revealed "alarming" figures, with 71.2 per cent of males and 28.8 per cent of females reporting they smoke.

The survey also found that 38.6 per cent of people started smoking before the age of 18, and 33.8 per cent of smokers light up within the first five minutes of waking up.

Also, 53 per cent of respondents supported an increase in taxes on tobacco products, with 33per cent of smokers in favour.

These findings were announced by Minister of Health Firas Hawari on Tuesday at the launch of the national survey results.

Highlighting prevalence of different forms of tobacco use, the survey found that 51.6 per cent of the sample population used one or more types of tobacco products, including cigarettes, shisha, electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and heated tobacco products.

It was reported that 43 per cent of Jordanians smoke tobacco on a daily basis, including manufactured cigarettes, shisha, roll-your-own cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Daily tobacco use is 65 per cent among men and 17 per cent among women.

The average number of cigarettes smoked per day is 22, with an average of 22.8 for men and 16.5 for women. The average monthly expenditure on manufactured cigarettes per smoker is JD77.97.

Currently, 14.3 per cent of the population smokes shisha, with 6.6 per cent of men (46 per cent of the sample population) and 7.7 per cent of women (54 per cent) reporting use. On average, a smoker consumes 2.6 shisha bowls per day.

The use of heated tobacco products is reported by 4.1 per cent of respondents, with 82.6 per cent of users being men and 17.4 per cent women. The prevalence of heated tobacco use is 3.4 per cent among males and only 0.7 per cent among females.

The survey found that 7.2 per cent of respondents currently use electronic cigarettes or vaping devices, with 79 per cent of users being men and 21 per cent women. The prevalence is 5.7 per cent among men and 1.5 per cent among women.

The average monthly expenditure on electronic cigarettes is JD35.10, of which JD18.5 are spent on the purchase of the device and JD16.60 on refills. The average monthly expenditure on manufactured cigarettes per smoker is JD77.97.

Some 33.8 per cent of respondents smoke within the first five minutes of waking up, with 36 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women doing so.

The survey found that 59 per cent of smokers expressed a desire to quit, but only 37 per cent had succeeded in doing so in the previous 12 months. A total of 63 per cent of those who tried to quit were unable to do so.

The majority of respondents, some 65 per cent,said that smoking was allowed in their homes without restriction, while 20 per cent said that smoking was not allowed indoors at all.

Forty-four per cent of respondents said they had seen someone smoking in a government building or office they had visited in the last 30 days (excluding health centres and hospitals). 

Also, 33 per cent reported seeing someone smoking in health facilities, while two-thirds of respondents saw someone smoking in university buildings, while 32 per cent reported seeing smoking in schools and 62 per cent saw smoking on public transport.

More than half of respondents, 53 per cent,supported an increase in taxes on tobacco products, while 46 per cent opposed an increase. Also, 75 per cent of non-smokers supported the tax increase, while only 33 per cent of smokers agreed.