Health perception, health conditions, and smoking cessation in Brazil

Abstract

Background Smoking cessation is strongly associated with motivational factors. It is possible that individuals who have successfully stopped smoking have different conditions and judgments about their own health. Objective To evaluate the relationship between tobacco-related diseases, health perception, and successful smoking cessation in Brazil. Method Cross-sectional observational study using data from the 2013 National Health Survey (PNS - 2013). Sociodemographic and health-related variables were considered in this study. Logistic regression modeling was carried out considering smoking cessation as outcome. Results Successful smoking cessation attempt was associated with age (OR=2.9, p=0.004), marital status (OR=1.69, p<0.001), level of education (OR=1.34, p<0.001), socioeconomic status (OR=1.58, p<0.001), census status (OR=1.07; p<0.001), access to pro-tobacco advertising (OR=1.74, p<0.001), anti-tobacco campaigns (OR=3.30; p<0.001) and, in particular, living with other smokers (OR=9.65; p<0.001). Conclusion Knowledge about sociodemographic and census status variables is relevant to the assessment of future specific health promotion policies.