Smoking Prevalence and Associated Factors as well as Attitudes and Perceptions towards Tobacco Control in Northeast China.
Zhijun Li, Yan Yao, Weiqing Han, Yaqin Yu, Yawen Liu, Yuchun Tao, Changgui Kou, Lingling Jiang, Qing Sun, Yutian Yin, Huiping Zhang, Bo Li
Author Information
Zhijun Li: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. beyond.hehe@163.com.
Yan Yao: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. Yinyt13@mails.jlu.edu.cn.
Weiqing Han: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. hanwq1987@foxmail.com.
Yaqin Yu: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. Yinyt13@mails.jlu.edu.cn.
Yawen Liu: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. ywliu@jlu.edu.cn.
Yuchun Tao: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. taoyuchun@163.com.
Changgui Kou: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. koucg@jlu.edu.cn.
Lingling Jiang: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. jianglingling.2008@163.com.
Qing Sun: Department of Food and Nutrition, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. qingbao7@126.com.
Yutian Yin: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. Yinyt13@mails.jlu.edu.cn.
Huiping Zhang: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. huiping.zhang@yale.edu.
Bo Li: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jilin University School of Public Health, Changchun 130021, China. li_bo@jlu.edu.cn.
OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), the associated factors of current smoking among adults, and their attitudes and perceptions towards tobacco control. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2012 using a self-reported questionnaire. A representative sample of adults aged 18-79 years was collected in the Jilin Province of Northeast China by a multistage stratified random cluster sampling design. Descriptive data analysis was conducted, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of prevalence/frequency were calculated to enable comparisons between the alleged differences and similarities. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the risk factors associated with current smoking. RESULTS: 21,435 adults responded to the survey (response rate: 84.9%). The overall prevalence of ever smoking, current smoking, and former smoking or smoking cessation was 39.1% (95% CI: 38.3-39.9), 31.8% (95% CI 31.1-32.6), and 7.3% (95% CI: 6.9-7.7), respectively. The proportion of ETS exposure among adult non-smokers in Jilin Province was 61.1% (95% CI: 60.1-62.1), and 23.1% (95% CI: 22.3-24.0) of the non-smokers reported daily ETS exposure. The proportion of ETS exposure at home was 33.4% (95% CI: 32.5-34.4), but the proportion of ETS exposure at restaurants was lower (6.5%) (95% CI: 6.0-7.1). More than 90% of the participants had positive attitudes and perceptions towards tobacco control, but 23.2% (95% CI: 22.5-24.0) of them did not agree with the perception of "smoking is fully quit in public places", and almost half of the adults (49.5%) (95% CI: 48.7-50.3) did not agree with the perception of "hazards of low-tar cigarettes are equal to general cigarettes". CONCLUSIONS: Smoking and exposure to ETS are prevalent among adults from the Jilin Province of Northeast China. Our findings suggest that tobacco control should be advocated in Northeast China. Anti-smoking campaigns and legislation should be built into the public health curriculum and government policy.
