This paper critically analyses contrasting estimates of Malaysia's illicit cigarette trade in 2011, 2015 and 2019 by Bui and Koya who previously produced independent estimates at about the same time using tax gap analysis. Collaboration between the two authors' teams emerged due to the discrepancies in their results, generating this paper to explore the methodological issues identified and hence produce revised estimates of the rate of illicit. Key issues identified were: Bui 's assessment of legally imported cigarettes impacting all years; their exclusion of ad valorem duty affecting the 2011 and 2015 estimates; Koya overlooked the value of cigarettes for export market in their ad valorem calculation and used the sales value of imported tobacco/tobacco products, not just cigarettes, both of which impact estimates for 2011 and 2015. Recalculations using Koya 's consumption data reveal that in 2019, illicit cigarettes accounted for about 70% of the market, which is higher than Bui 's estimate (38%) but slightly lower than Koya 's (72%). For 2011 and 2015 where ad valorem applied, the corrected estimates show a share of the illicit cigarette market of approximately 41.1% and 52.7%, respectively, differing from Bui 's 0% in 2011 and 29.6% in 2015, and Koya 's 51% in 2011 and 55% in 2015. This paper provides essential lessons for addressing methodological issues between authors' teams and updated estimates of Malaysia's illicit cigarette trade, verifying that Malaysia faces a substantial illicit cigarette trade problem.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) can include emotional, physical, or sexual violence. IPV during pregnancy is a preventable cause of injury and death with negative short- and long-term impacts for pregnant women, infants, and families. Using data from the 2016-2022 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System in nine U.
Background: Substance use and abuse of psychoactive substances, alcohol, and illicit drugs, result in dependence, crimes, illicit financial flows, corruption, and terrorism/insurgency.
Objectives: To evaluate the risk factors, prevalence, and patterns of substance abuse, among adult patients attending the Behavioural Medical Unit, Karu General Hospital, Abuja; for prevention and early clinical diagnosis.
Method: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted, from March 2022 to May 2022; involving 257 consenting adults, 18 years and above, selected through systematic random sampling.
Background: To control the illicit cigarette market, the government of Pakistan adopted a Tracking and Tracing System (TTS) that was fully operational by July 2022, despite many roadblocks. By this date, major tobacco companies had either registered their brands with the tax authority and/or installed TTS.
Methods: This paper is the first to evaluate the degree of compliance with the TTS by evaluating the extent and nature of illicit trade in tobacco products.
Smoking among persons living with HIV infection (PLWH) is estimated to be 2-3 times greater than that in the general population. Data suggest that cigarette smoking is more common among PLWH because of several factors, including lower socioeconomic status, previous, or concurrent illicit drug and alcohol use, younger age, lower education level, and concomitant depressive symptoms. Cigarette smoking among PLWH has been associated with a higher risk of certain cancers and infections as well as lowered response to antiretroviral therapy.
The proportion of young individuals that present with acute myocardial infarction is a major problem that keeps increasing. The specific characteristics of premature coronary artery disease and its differences between young and older individuals need to be elucidated. Although risk factors are similar in different age categories, there is a great difference in their prevalence.
