Gallopedia Highlights- Week # 132

Dated 8^th- 14^th August, 2010

This week’s report consists of 33 surveys. 2 of these are multi-country surveys & 1 is a cyber survey. 13 polling organizations have been represented.

ASIA zone-5 National Polls & 1 Multi Country Poll:
GCC: UAE

Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan

West Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey

AFRICA zone- 1 Multi Country poll:

West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal,

Central Africa: Uganda

East & the Horn of Africa: Kenya

South Africa: South Africa, Zimbabwe

EURO-AMERICAS zone-25 national polls & 1 Multi Country poll:

East Europe- Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Moldova, Poland

West Europe- UK, Italy

North America- USA, Canada
Latin America- Brazil, Chile

Australasia: Australia

CYBER WORLD: 1 poll

Commentary: Smoking continues to decline, but quitters in regional Australia lag behind

NOTE: While Australian Elections make big news, in this week’s topic of the week we are focusing on a less glamorous but consequential subject of Health with particular reference to Smoking. Are attitudes changing, and is the Incidence of smoking on the decline? A recent poll reveals the declining trend of Australian Smokers:

9/08/2010

According to the latest Roy Morgan Research Health Monitor, the four years to March 2010, have shown a 3% point reduction in the incidence of smoking (estimated as 260,000 fewer smokers aged 18 plus)down to a level of 17% of the overall population (an estimated 2,860,000 smokers).

Smokers living in capital cities have led the trend to quit with a 3% drop in incidence over the period. This equates to an estimated 218,000 fewer smokers in city areas, whereas amongst Australian country dwellers, smoking showed a solid decrease until 2008, but that decrease has stopped and smoking appears to be on the increase again in country areas.

Whilst all state capitals except Brisbane show lower smoking incidence than the national figure of 17%, regional Australia shows a higher than average incidence in every state except for the Northern Territory.

Nick Williams, Healthcare Consumer Consultant, Roy Morgan Research, says:

“Overall incidence of smoking amongst Australians has declined from 20% to 17% over the past 4 years. However, smoking in regional Australia remains higher than for the capital cities and the rate at which regional smokers are quitting is also slower. This indicates scope for stronger targeted regional implementation of the National Quit campaign and represents an opportunity for improved target marketing from the pharmaceutical marketers of medications that treat nicotine dependence.”

SOURCE: http://www.roymorganonlinestore.com/News/1144---Smoking-continues-to-decline,-but-quitters-.aspx

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The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani's Gallopedia website.