DOHA THE use of tobacco products in Qatar has declined remarkably in the recent past, according to the preliminary report of a new QSA survey.
The study, Qatar Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), conducted between May and June this year, found that only 17 percent of the men and 2 percent of the women between 15 and 49 years of age used a tobacco product during the period.
Health experts have been highlighting prevention of smoking as a major challenge in the country in light of past studies that revealed per capita consumption of cigarettes in Qatar to be higher than in Europe.
According to a HMC expert, recent surveys by the National Health Strategy revealed that a quarter of boys and 13 percent of girls between 13 to 15 years of age used tobacco products in Qatar. The surveys had also revealed that 36 percent of the overall population in the country, including nationals and expatriates, smoked.
Another startling revelation contained in QSA’s MICS report is that 16 percent men and seven percent women in the age group of 15 to 49 believe that there are times when it is justified for a husband to beat his wife.
These include the wife’s going out without telling the husband, neglect of children by her, argument with the husband, refusal of sex and burning food.
The report also reveals that overall, 44 percent of children in the 2-14 age group have to face violent enforcement of discipline, which includes both psychological aggression and physical punishment.
Comparing the findings for girls and boys, a somewhat higher percentage of boys experience this type of discipline.
The survey further points out that school attendance is high in Qatar with 97 percent attendance registered at the primary and 88 percent at secondary level. Girls and boys are attending primary school to the same extent; the Gender Parity Index (GPI) is 1.00. However, in secondary school the GPI drops to 0.99, indicating a few less girls than boys at the secondary level.
The report also says that around 95 percent of six year olds are attending school even as six is the official school starting age in Qatar. School attendance remains high at this level as well as for children between seven to ten years) of age but starts to decrease after they reach 17, the report adds.
Fifteen to 17 years is the official age range for upper-secondary school. Gender differentials are generally small.
Overall, 94 percent of people in the 15 to 49 year age bracket are somewhat or very happy with their lives. A somewhat higher percentage of women express happiness.
As many as 600 primary sampling units (PSUs) were selected for Qatari households and almost 1,600 PSUs for non-Qatari households for the survey.
The final report is scheduled for publication in early 2013.
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