PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.16 No.7, February 23, 2023 Article TypeNotes from the FieldOriginal ArticlesPolicy NotesQuickStats

• Original Articles 2023-02-23

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  Current Status of Flavored Tobacco Products Use

  Heejin Kimm, Kwanwook Kim, Hyunjae Yu, Sungkyu Lee, Eunji Lee, Kyoungin Na, Hyunjun Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(7): 185-199 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.7.1

  

  

  Abstract

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  Flavored Tobacco Products (FTPs) are widely used by adolescents, youths, and women. Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommends regulating tobacco flavoring. From May to June 2022, an online and qualitative survey of a nationwide panel of people aged 13–39 years was conducted. Of the 10,030 participants, 6,374 (63.5%) had used tobacco products. Among 5,243 current users, 4,045 (77.2%) were FTP users—an increase of 12.4%p from 64.8% in 2016. In terms of current FTP users by age group, 85.0% were aged 13–18, 80.1% were 19–24 years, and 74.5% were 25–39 years. There were twice as many respondents who said that FTP affected their first attempts to smoke, and the awareness of harmfulness was lowered. FTPs are also used in e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. For first-time smokers who tried flavored cigarettes once or twice, the odds ratio (OR) for current smokers was 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–1.6, age-adjusted) compared to those who started with unflavored cigarettes. The OR of continuing to smoke FTPs was 10.9 (95% CI, 9.5–12.4). It is necessary to continuously identify FTP patterns, improve awareness, and prepare countermeasures to prevent the addiction to tobacco among adolescents.

• Notes from the Field 2023-02-23

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  Global Trend on the Neutralizing Ability of Omicron Subvariants
  (BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB, XBB.1, BA.2.75.2, BN.1)

  Sang Won O, Eun Ju Lee, Hyeok Jin Lee, Il-Hwan Kim, Jee Eun Rhee, Eun-Jin Kim*

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(7): 200-205 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.7.2

  

  

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  This study aimed to evaluate the neutralization resistance of BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB, XBB.1, BA.2.75.2, and BN.1 sublineages of Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 (previously dominant variants) based on the evidence presented in recent international reports.

• Policy Notes 2023-02-23

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  2023 World Leprosy Day

  Soo-Jin Park , Yongmin Lee, Mee-young Hyun, Seon-Yeo Min*

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(7): 206-211 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.7.3

  

  

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  January 29, 2023 is World Leprosy Day, which is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of January. The World Health Organization and Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy selected this year’s campaign theme as “Act Now: End leprosy.” This international day provides an opportunity to celebrate people who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness of the disease, and call for an end to leprosy-related stigma and discrimination.

• QuickStats 2023-02-23

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  Trends in the Prevalence of Perceived Depressive Symptoms, during 2012-2021

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(7): 212-213 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.7.4

  

  

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