Further statistics indicate that men smoke nearly five times as much as women, though the prevalence rates vary with countries. In developed countries the difference in smoking rates between men and women is almost negligible but the trend is worrying in developing countries such as Kenya, with the gap between prevalence rates between men and women smoking shrinking. It is estimated that 79 men and 39 women die every week in Kenya due to tobacco-related illness. Women could increase their income globally by up to 76 per cent if the employment participation and the wage gaps between women and men were closed. The relatively slower rise of smoking among women in comparison with men has been attributed to social disapproval of women who smoke and to women’s lower social and economic status.

Source: Daily Nation November 27, 2016 19:41 UTC