Socio-economic inequalities in smoking prevalence and involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke in Argentina: Analysis of three cross-sectional nationally representative surveys in 2005, 2009 and 2013.

Nihaya Daoud,Marilina Santero,Akram Hernández-Vásquez,Santiago Melendi,Vilma Irazola

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217845

Nihaya Daoud, Marilina Santero + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217845

Copy DOI

Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Jun 7, 2019
Citations: 14	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria

Abstract

BackgroundUnderstanding patterns of socio-economic inequalities in tobacco consumption is key to design targeted public health policies for tobacco control. This study examines socio-economic inequalities in smoking and involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke between 2005 and 2013.MethodsData were derived from the Argentine National Risk Factors Surveys, conducted in 2005, 2009, and 2013. Two inequality measures were calculated: the age-adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) and the disparity index (DI). Educational level, household income per consumer unit and employment status were used as proxies for socio-economic status (SES). Generalized linear models were used in the analysis.ResultsPrevalence of smoking decreased from 29.7% to 25.1% between 2005 and 2013, mainly in women (p<0.001). Despite the overall prevalence reduction, socio-economic inequalities in smoking persisted. For both men and women, the DI was moderately high for smoking (14.47%-33.06%) across the three surveys. In men, the PR indicated a higher smoking prevalence for lower educational levels and lower household income throughout the analyzed period. In women, unlike previous years, the 2013 survey showed disparity related to unemployment. Involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke in 2013 was associated with educational level and household income, with lower involuntary exposure among those with higher SES.ConclusionsWhile overall smoking rates have decreased in Argentina, socio-economic disparities related to tobacco smoking persist. Comprehensive tobacco control programs targeted to address these inequalities are essential in developing strategies to reduce health disparities in tobacco-related diseases.

Highlights

While great progress has been made towards tobacco control throughout the world, smoking persists as one of the major causes of premature mortality and morbidity and, constitutes a global public health priority
Unlike previous years, the 2013 survey showed disparity related to unemployment
While overall smoking rates have decreased in Argentina, socio-economic disparities related to tobacco smoking persist

Summary

Introduction

While great progress has been made towards tobacco control throughout the world, smoking persists as one of the major causes of premature mortality and morbidity and, constitutes a global public health priority. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 7 million people worldwide die each year from smoking-related diseases, a twofold increase since 2000 [2]. More than 6 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 890,000 are the result of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke [3]. According to the "Report on Drug Use in the Americas, 2015”, carried out by the Organization of American States (OAS), Argentina constitutes the second country to present the highest tobacco consumption in the region, after Chile. Understanding patterns of socio-economic inequalities in tobacco consumption is key to design targeted public health policies for tobacco control. This study examines socio-economic inequalities in smoking and involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke between 2005 and 2013.

Methods

Results

Conclusion