Survey on status of smoking, passive smoking and quitting smoking in rural areas of the midwestern provinces in China

Abstract

To study the status of smoking, passive smoking and quitting smoking in rural areas of the middle and western regions in China, and to develop strategies for improvement. A total of 5486 residents aged 15 to 69 years in 84 villages of the 16 counties in Gansu, Qinghai, Shanxi and Xinjiang were selected through a stratified multistage cluster random sampling method to collect information through questionnaires. Data on the initiate age of smoking, and rates on smoking, passive smoking, quitting smoking as well as related knowledge were used as nutritional indicators. The overall smoking rate was 20.9%, with 44.8% in males and 2.0% higher than seen in females. The rate of smoking in Han nationality was higher than that in other minorities. There were significant differences seen in genders and nationalities as well the level of education received, in the rates of smoking. Smokers started to smoke at the age of 21.3 ± 5.6 with males earlier than females. The rate of passive smoking was 37.8%, with males as 31.9%, and females as 40.4%, respectively. The rate of quitting smoking appeared as 1.9%. The status of smoking in the rural areas of middle and western regions in China faced challenges, with relatively low rate of quitting smoking. Relevant strategies need to be developed accordingly.