Smokeless Tobacco Use Higher Among Pregnant Women in SE Asia

May.11.2022
Smokeless Tobacco Use Higher Among Pregnant Women in SE Asia
Pregnant women in Southeast Asia are more likely to use smokeless tobacco products, according to a study.

A study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research reports that pregnant women in Southeast Asia are more likely to use smokeless tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, than non-pregnant women.


The study analyzed survey data from 1.3 million women aged 15 to 49 from 42 low- and middle-income countries. Of these participants, 80,454 were pregnant women, whose tobacco use behaviors were compared to those of non-pregnant participants.


A research team has found that pregnant women "are 7% more likely to use smokeless tobacco than non-pregnant women". Dr. Radha Shukla, a doctoral student in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York in the UK and one of the study's authors, said that the situation in Southeast Asia is the opposite of that in high-income countries, where the proportion of pregnant women using tobacco is lower.


Shukla stated that this is an issue of particular importance and it is necessary to develop tailored interventions to aid women in reducing or quitting tobacco use, especially during pregnancy due to its adverse effects on pregnancy. This not only includes smoking but also the use of smokeless tobacco, which is typically chewed, sniffed or used locally in the mouth.


Pregnant smokers should be provided with "quit smoking services that are easy to access and opt-out of.


The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in the UK has suggested that financial incentives should be offered to pregnant women who are unable to quit smoking, in order to help them achieve their goal. The RCP has also advised that smokers should receive "quit-ready" smoking cessation services at any point of contact with the National Health Service (NHS). Additionally, the organization has stated that since most smokers are typically from "lower socio-economic groups," providing economic incentives to pregnant women could help motivate them to quit smoking.


These suggestions were put forward as part of a report released by the RCP, regarding what can be done to achieve the government's "Smoke-free 2030" target. However, recent data indicates that at the current rate, this target may not be achieved until 2050.


The ability of the United Kingdom and other countries to respond to significant public health challenges is unquestionable. The Covid-19 pandemic has presented the biggest new health challenge for the UK and the world in decades, prompting responses in both public health and economic spheres. Its scale is unprecedented in modern times, according to a report. However, in 2020, while Covid-19 killed approximately 80,000 British citizens, smoking killed 94,000 people.


Source: VapingPost


Pregnant women in Southeast Asia have a tendency to use smokeless tobacco, according to a report from Vaping Post.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Product | Four CrossBar 20K 13mL High-Puff Vapes Listed on Pennsylvania's ENDS Directory, Rated for Up to 20,000 Puffs
Product | Four CrossBar 20K 13mL High-Puff Vapes Listed on Pennsylvania's ENDS Directory, Rated for Up to 20,000 Puffs
Four CrossBar 20K disposable e-cigarettes appeared on Pennsylvania's 163-entry ENDS directory ahead of enforcement beginning October 19, 2026. The devices feature 13mL e-liquid reservoirs, 50mg/mL nicotine, 2,000mAh batteries and 0.9Ω mesh coils, with advertised puff counts of up to 20,000. CrossBar was the only modern high-puff disposable series among the directory's 15 disposable entries. Its packaging emphasizes New York design and Japanese-origin flavoring, while historical CrossBar records identify a registered U.S. tobacco manufacturing-related establishment. The link between the newer 13mL devices and earlier 1.3mL PMTA filings remains unconfirmed.
product
Oct.26
Global Nicotine-Pouch E-Commerce Group Haypp Shuts Sweden’s Snusnetto Over Age Verification as Identity Checks Become Industry Infrastructure for New Nicotine Products
Global Nicotine-Pouch E-Commerce Group Haypp Shuts Sweden’s Snusnetto Over Age Verification as Identity Checks Become Industry Infrastructure for New Nicotine Products
Sweden's Supreme Administrative Court has declined to hear an appeal over age verification for tobacco and nicotine products collected from parcel lockers, leaving in place a lower-court ruling that geo-located BankID verification is insufficient to securely verify the actual recipient. Haypp Group has stopped tobacco and nicotine sales through Snusnetto and is deploying a new system across its other Swedish e-commerce sites to verify the age of the person who actually opens the locker and receives the shipment. The change comes as age verification across next-generation nicotine products expands from purchase checks into retail, delivery and, for some e-cigarettes, device access itself.
Regulations
Oct.20
EU Vape, Heated Tobacco and Nicotine Pouch Tax Reform Reaches Ministerial Talks: Sweden Opposes Proposed 2032 Minimum of 50% of Retail Price or €50/kg for Nicotine Pouches
EU Vape, Heated Tobacco and Nicotine Pouch Tax Reform Reaches Ministerial Talks: Sweden Opposes Proposed 2032 Minimum of 50% of Retail Price or €50/kg for Nicotine Pouches
EU finance ministers are scheduled to discuss tobacco excise reform on November 9, 2026, seeking agreement on higher minimum duties for conventional tobacco and a common EU minimum tax framework covering e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. A November 5 Council document identifies nicotine pouch taxation as the main outstanding issue. The Irish Council presidency proposes phased increases, reaching 50% of retail selling price or €50 per kilogram in 2032. Sweden has formally said it cannot support the current compromise, objecting to both the proposed nicotine pouch tax burden and the adjustment of minimum rates based on national purchasing power. The package also addresses cross-border personal-use reference quantities, raw tobacco controls and the continued exclusion of traditional tobacco snus.
Regulations
Nov.10
German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack
German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack
Germany's Bundestag passed amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act on October 15, 2026, setting out annual excise tax increases from 2027 through 2030 for e-cigarette liquids, heated tobacco, cigarettes and other tobacco products. Under the Finance Committee's amended bill, duty on qualifying e-liquids will rise from €0.32/ml in 2026 to €0.44/ml in 2030, an increase of 37.5%. Heated tobacco will retain its tax calculation based on 80% of the corresponding cigarette excise duty. The average price of a 20-cigarette pack is projected to approach €12 by 2030, with some brands potentially reaching €14. The legislation is projected to generate approximately €11.8 billion in additional tax revenue over four years and remains subject to further legislative procedures.
Regulations
Oct.19
Huabao International Buys Indonesian HNB Manufacturer for RMB 90 Million, Adding OEM/ODM Capacity
Huabao International Buys Indonesian HNB Manufacturer for RMB 90 Million, Adding OEM/ODM Capacity
Huabao International Holdings Limited will acquire 100% of PT Broad Far Indonesia through two wholly owned subsidiaries for approximately RMB 90 million. The Indonesian company manufactures and sells heat-not-burn tobacco sticks and provides OEM/ODM services. The sellers are part of a related-party group controlled by Huabao International Chair and controlling shareholder Zhu Linyao. PT Broad Far Indonesia generated $4.37 million in revenue and $177,000 in profit after tax in the first half of 2026, while net assets stood at about $326,000 at June-end. An independent valuer assessed the company’s equity at approximately RMB 93.06 million. Following completion, the HNB manufacturing operation will be consolidated into Huabao International.
News
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Asia Manufacturing Corp. has invested ₱2.1 billion, or about $37 million, in its manufacturing site in Malvar, Batangas, Philippines, to expand tobacco-processing capabilities. About ₱1.9 billion is allocated to JTI's first Dry Ice Expanded Tobacco, or DIET, facility in Southeast Asia, while more than ₱177 million has been spent on expanding its Controlled Atmosphere treatment facility. The Batangas plant supplies the Philippine market and exports to 22 overseas markets, making it one of JTI's key manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Sep.24