Study finds association between cigarette tax and reduced infant deaths


Date:
March 16, 2022
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
Raising taxes on tobacco is associated with a reduction in neonatal
and infant mortality, according to an analysis of 159 countries.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Raising taxes on tobacco is associated with a reduction in neonatal and
infant mortality, according to an analysis of 159 countries published
this week in the open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Anthony Laverty of Imperial College London, UK, and colleagues.


========================================================================== Exposure of pregnant women and babies to smoking and second-hand smoke
is known to increase the risks of neonatal and infant mortality. Raising taxation on tobacco has been shown to be the most effective measure of
reducing tobacco use and associated health risks, especially among
low-income populations. A tobacco tax rate of 75% or greater is
recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In the new study, the researchers used data spanning 2008 through 2018
from 159 countries on neonatal and infant mortality, tobacco taxation,
and other related variables including gross domestic product, fertility
rate, education and access to drinking water.

On average across all countries studied, the neonatal mortality
rate was 14.4 and the infant mortality rate was 24.9 per 1,000 live
births. Worldwide between 2008-2018, the average neonatal and infant
mortality rates were 14.4 and 24.9 deaths per 1,000 live births,
respectively. These rates were higher in LMICs than HICs -- with 33
children aged under one, including 19 newborns, in every 1,000 dying each
year in LMICs, compared to 4 newborns and 6 under-ones in every 1,000 in
HICs. The average total tax on cigarettes relative to retail price was
49.1%, with only 11.2% of low- and middle-income countries and 42.1%
of high-income countries achieving the recommended 75% taxation. The
team found that a ten percentage-point increase in total cigarette tax
was associated with a 2.6% decrease in neonatal mortality (95% CI 1.9-
3.2) and a 1.9% decrease in infant mortality (95% CI 1.3- 2.6). Based
on the findings, an estimated 231,220 (95% CI 152,658- 307,655) infant
deaths, including 181,970 (95% CI: 135,679 to 226,377) neonatal deaths,
might have been averted in 2018 if all countries had at least a 75%
cigarette tax rate.

The study was not able to control for all potential confounders, but the authors suggest that the health impacts of taxation are likely mediated
through decreases in prenatal and postnatal second-hand smoke exposure
and decreased smoking during pregnancy.

The authors add: "We know that tobacco smoking continues to kill more
than 8 million people per year, and that increasing taxes on tobacco
is an effective way to bring this number down. This study highlights
that if everywhere taxed tobacco at the levels recommended by the WHO,
we would substantially reduce neonatal and infant deaths."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Ma'rta K. Rado', Anthony A. Laverty, Thomas Hone, Kiara Chang,
Mohammed
Jawad, Christopher Millett, Jasper V. Been, Filippos T. Filippidis.

Cigarette taxation and neonatal and infant mortality: A longitudinal
analysis of 159 countries. PLOS Global Public Health, 2022; 2 (3):
e0000042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000042 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220316145800.htm

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