Patterns and socioeconomic influences of tobacco exposure in tobacco cultivating rural areas of Yunnan Province, China

Le Cai,Wenlong Cui,Keying Zhao,Feng Jiao,Ying Song,Xinan Wu,Jianhui He,Yuntao Han,Abhinav Goyal,Xia Xiao

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-842

Abstract

BackgroundThis study describes the patterns and socioeconomic influences of tobacco use among adults in tobacco-cultivating regions of rural southwest China.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in 8681 adults aged ≥18 years in rural areas of Yunnan Province, China from 2010 to 2011. A standardized questionnaire was administered to obtain data about participants’ demographic characteristics, individual socioeconomic status, ethnicity, self-reported smoking habits, and exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). The socioeconomic predictors of current smoking, nicotine addiction, and SHS exposure were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsThe prevalence rates of tobacco use were much higher in men compared with women (current smoking 68.5% vs. 1.3%; and nicotine dependence 85.2% vs. 72.7%). However, the rate of SHS exposure was higher in women compared with men (76.6% vs. 70.5%). Tobacco farmers had higher prevalence rates of current smoking, nicotine dependence, and SHS exposure compared with participants not engaged in tobacco farming (P<0.01). Most tobacco users (84.5%) reported initiating smoking during adolescence. A total of 81.1% of smokers smoked in public places, and 77.6% smoked in workplaces. Individuals belonging to an ethnic minority had a lower probability of SHS exposure and nicotine dependence. Individual educational level was found to be inversely associated with the prevalence of current smoking, exposure to SHS, and nicotine dependence. Higher annual household income was associated with a greater risk of nicotine dependence.ConclusionsThis study suggests that tobacco control efforts in rural southwest China must be tailored to address tobacco-cultivating status and socioeconomic factors.

Highlights

This study describes the patterns and socioeconomic influences of tobacco use among adults in tobacco-cultivating regions of rural southwest China
The epidemiological studies conducted in China have focused mostly on urban areas or national-level data, but the literature is still sparse in tobacco-cultivating rural areas, where the rate of tobacco consumption is the highest
The findings indicate a high prevalence of smoking, and a high prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among non-smokers

Summary

Introduction

This study describes the patterns and socioeconomic influences of tobacco use among adults in tobacco-cultivating regions of rural southwest China. An inverse relationship between educational attainment and the risks of environmental tobacco exposure was identified in previous Chinese and Korean studies [9,10]. In China, several studies have examined the relationship between smoking and SES variables in the general adult Chinese population [10,11,12], and show an inverse association between education and smoking. Little data are available concerning the associations between SES variables and tobacco use in the Chinese tobacco-cultivating adult population. It is crucial that we understand the socioeconomic factors related to tobacco use and identify target populations for tobacco control. The epidemiological studies conducted in China have focused mostly on urban areas or national-level data, but the literature is still sparse in tobacco-cultivating rural areas, where the rate of tobacco consumption is the highest

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