Abstract
BackgroundThis study examines how prevalence and behaviors of smoking differ by socioeconomic status among rural southwest Chinese adults.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted including 7743 adults aged ≥35 years in rural regions of Yunnan Province, China from 2016 to 2018. Information on individual socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity, and self-reported smoking behaviors was collected utilizing a standardized questionnaire. The individual socioeconomic position (SEP) index was constructed using principal component analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between individual SES variables and the prevalence and behaviors of smoking.ResultsIn the study population, the overall prevalence rate of current smokers was 33.5%. Males had a markedly higher prevalence of current smokers than females (62.6% vs. 4.8%, P < 0.01). Of these smokers, 74.5% began smoking during adolescence, 88.8% had never attempted to quit smoking, and 81.1% reported smoking in public places. Ethnic minority participants and those with low levels of education and/or low SEP were more likely to use tobacco as well as more likely to start smoking, and regularly smoke, during adolescence (P < 0.01). Participants with poor access to medical services had a higher prevalence of current smoking than their counterparts (P < 0.01). Among current smokers, Han ethnicity, good access to medical services, and high SEP were positively associated with the probability of having attempted to quit smoking at least once, while a high level of education and high SEP were negatively associated with the probability of smoking in public places.ConclusionsDisparities in prevalence and behaviors of smoking exist across a diversity of indicators of individual SES in rural southwest China. Future tobacco cessation interventions should focus on men, ethnic minorities, and those with low education levels, poor access to medical services, and low SEP.
Highlights
Tobacco smoking causes many preventable diseases and its impact on premature death is a major concern worldwide: the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that smoking accounts for almost 6 million deaths globally each year [1]
Due to a lack of research detailing the relationship between individual socioeconomic factors and smoking behaviors, socioeconomic disparities in smoking initiation, quit attempts, and level of tobacco consumption remain poorly understood, in rural populations and ethnic minority groups, the subgroups with the highest prevalence of tobacco use in China [14]
Due to the fact that socioeconomic status (SES) factors are an important determinant of smoking behaviors, a better understanding of SES determinants of prevalence and behaviors of smoking is vital for facilitating the implementation of tailored tobacco control and prevention programs in China
Summary
Tobacco smoking causes many preventable diseases and its impact on premature death is a major concern worldwide: the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that smoking accounts for almost 6 million deaths globally each year [1] China is both the world’s largest tobacco manufacturer and consumer, accounting for one-third of the world’s tobacco production and consumption [2]; it is home to 300 million smokers and 740 million non-. Due to a lack of research detailing the relationship between individual socioeconomic factors and smoking behaviors, socioeconomic disparities in smoking initiation, quit attempts, and level of tobacco consumption remain poorly understood, in rural populations and ethnic minority groups, the subgroups with the highest prevalence of tobacco use in China [14]. This study examines how prevalence and behaviors of smoking differ by socioeconomic status among rural southwest Chinese adults
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