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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Dilyara Barzani, MD, MPH, Ministry of Health, Kurdistan Regional Government, Cancer Control Program, MOH, KRG, Government Square, Erbil, 44001, Iraq, 32 48 445 2268, dr.barzani@consultant.com

Introduction: In a time of great difficulty in Iraq, during which most coverage of it in the world's media is dominated by security issues, not everyone realizes that the top five causes of mortality and morbidity are cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and hypertension, with smoking, unsurprisingly, a significant factor. However the magnitude of the problem is unknown. In order to develop any successful Tobacco Control Program and in order to evaluate later baseline data on knowledge, attitude and practice among different population group is absolutely necessary. Methods: In order to assess the tobacco use prevalence among 5 population categories: youth, health professionals, school professionals, medical students and general population, Ministry of Health had implemented 5 surveys. 1.Physician Smoking Survey 2.Non-Communicable Diseases Risk Factor Survey 3.Global Youth Tobacco Survey* 4.Global School Professional Survey* 5.Global Health Professional Survey* * With the collaboration of WHO & CDC Results: Overall: 33.2% of males and 10.9% of females, secondary school students, 18% of males and 6% of females physicians, 43% of males and 12 of females general population currently used any tobacco products. 50.2% of students exposed to Environmental Tobacco Smoking and only 46.9% been taught in class about the danger of smoking. Conclusions: MOH should develop Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program based on the scientific evidence and best practices. Special population such as health professionals and youths should be one of the priorities for intervention.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of this presentation, participant will be able to describe the status of Tobacco Control in Iraq and learn how to identify the priority for Tobacco Control, develop partnerships and start collecting the data in countries with non-existent or undeveloped Tobacco Control Infrastructure.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Smoking

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.pdf format, 190.8 kb)