The Ministry of Health has reported that 16.7 percent of the Bahamian adult population are smokers -- over 10 percent of them classified as "daily smokers" -- according to the most current statistics which were compiled in 2012. Less than half a percent of those surveyed use smokeless tobacco.

The information was contained in a 2014 report to the United Nations under the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The report is mandated under the FCTC, which The Bahamas signed on June 29, 2004 and ratified on November 3, 2009. The convention mandates reports every two years -- The Bahamas is due to report again in 2016.

Health Minister Dr. Perry Gomez last week foreshadowed a bill to control the use of tobacco, which had been developed by his ministry in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General and other government and non-government agencies.
The information reported was derived from the 2012 Bahamas STEPS Survey. Cigarettes, cigars and pipes are the smoking tobacco products included in calculating prevalence for the survey questions. The survey included men and women between 25 and 64 years of age.

The WHO STEPS approach to surveillance is a simple, standardized method for collecting, analysing and disseminating data in WHO member countries. By using the same standardized questions and protocols, all countries can use STEPS information not only for monitoring within-country trends, but also for making comparisons across countries. The approach encourages the collection of small amounts of useful information on a regular and continuing basis.

The ministry defined the terms in the survey thusly: Current smokers referred to respondents who report smoking at the time of the survey, and daily smokers means individuals who smoke any tobacco product at least once a day, including those who smoke every day except days of religious fasting. Occasional smokers are individuals who smoke any tobacco product but not every day.

A different survey has revealed an increase in smoking among young people. According to the 2013 Bahamas Global Youth Tobacco survey, 13.7 percent of boys and girls between 13 and 15 years old smoked tobacco -- that is, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or pipes --wing) tobacco in the same period.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian