Population-based evidence of a strong decline in the prevalence of smokers in Brazil (1989-2003)

Bibliographic Data

ID23367137
AuthorsCarlos Augusto Monteiro (0000-0002-3777-1533, Departamento de Epidemiología, corresponding author), Carlos Monteiro (0000-0002-9681-4097)
Year2007
Volume85
Issue7
Pages527-534
Publication date2007-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBulletin of the World Health Organization (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0042-9686 • E-ISSN: 1564-0604
PublisherWHO Press (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2471/blt.06.039073
PMID17768501
OpenAlexW2101903408
LanguageEN
Citations received73
References cited10

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the evolution in smoking indicators in the adult Brazilian population between 1989 and 2003. METHODS: We compared age-adjusted prevalence ratios and means for smoking indicators, stratified by age, sex and sociodemographic variables, obtained from two comparable household surveys that used probabilistic sampling of the Brazilian population aged > 18 years (n = 34 808 in 1989 and n = 5000 in 2003). FINDINGS: Between 1989 and 2003, there was a substantial decrease in the prevalence of smoking (from 34.8% to 22.4%; age-adjusted prevalence ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.60-0.70) and a modest reduction in the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day (from 13.3 to 11.6; age-adjusted difference, -1.8; 95% CI, -2.6 - -1.0). Reductions in the prevalence and intensity of smoking were greater among males, younger age groups and higher socioeconomic strata. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of smoking in the adult Brazilian population declined by 35% between 1989 and 2003, or an average of 2.5% per year. This exceptional reduction surpasses those seen in other countries that implemented wide-ranging and rigorous policies for controlling smoking during the same period. The more intense decline in smoking in younger age groups was consistent with the concentration of efforts of the Brazilian tobacco control programme to prevent the onset of smoking among youths and the total prohibition of cigarette advertising. We recommend the intensification of programme initiatives targeting women and less economically favoured population strata.

Age groups · Confidence interval · Environmental health · Population · Public health · Smoking prevalence · Socioeconomic status · Tobacco control · Demography · Epidemiology · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Medicine · Reliability and Agreement in Measurement · Smoking Behavior and Cessation

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access