2nd Edition of Public Health World Conference (PHWC) 2026
Speakers - PHWC2026
Hazel Ebenezer
Hazel Ebenezer
- Designation: Tobacco Harm Reduction
- Country: India
- Title: Exploring Oral Nicotine Pouches as a Region and Gender Sensitive Harm Reduction Solution
Abstract
Despite existing global tobacco control policies, combustible tobacco use continues to burden health systems worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICS) and differentially towards women. This can be changed through adopting Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) policies that prioritize a risk-proportionate approach.
Oral Nicotine Pouches (ONPs) in particular provide a region and gender sensitive solution to the tobacco crisis, helping address health equity and human rights in public health. Delivering nicotine without combustion and without tobacco, ONPs lie low on the scale of relative risk, making them an important - if not essential - alternative to smoking. Additionally, ONPs are also proving to be incredibly effective.
This research explores the potential of ONPs in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and its already-proven benefits in providing a gender-sensitive solution for women. With a large prevalence of smoking and high-risk smokeless tobacco use, LMICs account for 84% of the oral health crisis. For the millions in LMICs using toxic oral tobacco products, ONPs offer something unprecedented: a pathway to better health that acknowledges the real-world barriers to cessation while delivering tangible harm reduction.
In understanding the potential of ONPs for women in particular, this research includes a recent national survey in Sweden among ex-smokers. The results explore how ONPs have helped account for gendered differences in cessation choices – citing evidence of success and hopes of replication. Through the survey, ONPs emerged as the most effective quitting method among both genders and was three times more popular than vapes among women. Since the introduction of ONPs in 2016, Sweden has seen a 200% rise in quit rates among women.
In its entirety, the research showcases the health gains and widespread region- and gender-sensitive benefits of adopting ONPs as a harm reduction tool with the capacity to promote a sustainable way forward.
2nd Edition of Public Health World Conference (PHWC) 2026
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