Press release prepared by NGO "Life".

The online survey of the population was conducted by KIIS on the order of NGO "Life" from December 18 to 27, 2022 using the INPOLL online panel. The total sample size is 800 respondents living in urban areas. Quota sampling was used in the research (type of settlement, gender, age, tobacco use status). At the analysis stage, a weighting procedure was used, so the ratio of cities, gender, age and status (smoker or non-smoker) in the sample corresponds to the available statistics (representative data Omnibus - May 2022, commissioned by the NGO "Life"). The margin of error (at 95% confidence level and p=0.5, but excluding the design effect and limitations associated with CAWI researches) is 3.5%.

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Control over the implementation of smoke-free legislation is the key to overcoming the tobacco epidemic in Ukraine

On February 9, 2023, at the “Ukrinform” news agency, the non-governmental organization “Life” together with the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) and the Center for Public Health presented the results of a representative survey "Attitude of the population towards anti-tobacco measures in 2022”. 

The survey was conducted based on the results of an information campaign “No smoking friendly. Health care is your contribution to victory ”, implemented by the Center for Public Health and NGO "Life" during October - November 2022 with the support of an international non-profit organization “Vital Strategies”.

According to a representative survey conducted by KIIS in December 2022 among residents of Ukraine (aged 18-55), almost half of the respondents (48%) are aware of the anti-tobacco Law №1978-Х — among them, 89% are informed about the prohibition of smoking cigarettes for heating in public places, and 62% - about completely smoke-free workplaces.

In addition, respondents reported that despite the entry into force of anti-tobacco measures, they still notice the use of tobacco products in places prohibited by the Law — for example, 79% of survey participants noticed smoking at public transport stops, 61% — in entrances of multi-apartment buildings, and 37% — inside public catering establishments. But Ukrainians are ready to protect their right to a smoke-free environment — about 80% of respondents said that they would take certain measures if smoking was detected in a prohibited place. In particular, more than half would act proactively: they would ask the smoker to stop smoking or they would complain to the institution's administration or law enforcement agencies. 

“73% of citizens support the further expansion of smoke-free places, so it is important to ensure a proper response to citizen complaints in order to maintain a high level of enforcement of the anti-tobacco law, in particular, by the National Police and the State Production and Consumer Service of Ukraine. State control is extremely important for protecting public health from the harm of second-hand smoke and nicotine emissions”, — emphasized Dmytro Kupyra, executive director of the NGO "Life".

KIIS researchers also asked how the respondents evaluated the materials of the anti-tobacco campaign "No smoking friendly. Health care is your contribution to victory" and how it was able to change their attitude towards smoking. Yes, for example, anti-tobacco advertising prompted 64% of surveyed smokers to think about the impact of passive smoking on the health of others, and 55% - about the impact of smoking on their own health. In addition, under the influence of the information campaign 46% of smokers noted that thought about giving up smoking electronic cigarettes or cigarettes for heating.

Interesting is the fact that respondents who were familiar with advertising materials before the survey evaluated their effectiveness more positively. For example, 61% of non-smokers who have seen an information campaign before said that it encourages them not to start smoking at all. Among those non-smokers who did not notice the campaign before, this indicator is 44%.

“Information campaigns about the risks of using tobacco and nicotine products are an effective tool that helps to raise awareness among the public about the risks of using tobacco and nicotine products, and also promotes the spread of healthy behavior patterns. Therefore, information campaigns regarding the health of the population should be conducted regularly, taking into account the specifics of the target audiences and current issues of population protection”, — noted Iryna Soroka, Head of the Department of Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases of the Public Health Center.

The results of the survey showed a lack of public awareness of the dangers of electronic smoking devices and hookahs (which are tobacco products), while the respondents are fully convinced of the harm to health from smoking cigarettes. The absolute majority of respondents (85%) completely agree that smoking cigarettes causes serious diseases. However, only 58%, 58%, and 45% of respondents agreed that the use of e-cigarettes, heating cigarettes, and hookahs is harmful to health. The situation is similar with the opinion of the population regarding passive smoking. 80% of survey participants believe that second-hand cigarette smoke harms the organism, however, only 51%, 52%, and 43%, respectively, agree with a similar statement regarding the secondary emissions of e-cigarettes, heating cigarettes, and hookahs.

“The introduction of control over electronic smoking devices was one of the major health policy victories of 2022. Now the task of the Government is to ensure compliance with legislative changes. As early as July 2023, regulations prohibiting the advertising of electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating cigarettes, which are used together with tobacco heating devices, such as "IQOS", "glo", will enter into force. This is a step to protect children and young people from misleading advertising - because there is no such thing as safe smoking. At the same time, society needs additional information about all the dangers involved in the use of any tobacco and nicotine products”, — stressed Lada Bulakh, People's Deputy of Ukraine.

Materials of the informational social campaign "No smoking friendly. Health care — your contribution to victory" are available for free distribution, subject to a mandatory reference to the Center for Public Health and the NGO "Life".

For contact information: Anastasiia Bonkovska, project manager of the NGO "Life", (050) 293-39-97, bonkovskaa@center-life.org 

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For reference: Every year, 130,000 Ukrainians die from diseases caused by smoking. Smoking also causes significant damage to the economy of our country: according to experts' calculations, annual economic losses per year amount to 3.2% of Ukraine's GDP, or about UAH 179 billion (as of 2021) due to early disability by smokers, social benefits and treatment of diseases caused by smoking.