In my earlier message today I said: "Previous discussions on HIFA have highlighted the fact that many people are unaware of the health risks associated with smoking and other harmful behaviours. They often only become aware of the risks when they develop disease. From a human rights perspective, people have a right to know. Every person has a right to the reliable healthcare information they need to protect their own health and the health of others."
An example of research on this topic happened to come into my inbox shortly after.
CITATION: Hamadneh, J., Hamadneh, S., Amarin, Z. and Al-Beitawi, S., 2021. Knowledge, Attitude and Smoking Patterns Among Pregnant Women: A Jordanian Perspective. Annals of Global Health, 87(1), p.36. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.3279
'Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of smokers among pregnant women in Jordan. The level of awareness regarding long-term consequences of tobacco use remains low. Educational programs should include information about the hazards of all forms of smoking. Pregnancy provides a good opportunity for promoting smoking cessation.'
i would be interested to hear about levels of awareness in other countries.
Best wishes, Neil
Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org
Working in official relations with WHO
