Tobacco use, cessation, secondhand smoke and exposure to media about tobacco in Brazil: results of the National Health Survey 2013 and 2019

Abstract

Objective: To compare indicators of tobacco use, secondhand smoke, cessation and exposure to pro- and anti-tobacco media in 2013 and 2019, and to describe these indicators according to sociodemographic variables in 2019. Methods: Cross-sectional study with data from the National Health Survey. The indicators of use, secondhand smoke, cessation and exposure to tobacco-related media were evaluated. Prevalence and confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated for the total population in 2013 and 2019 and according to sociodemographic variables for 2019. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to assess differences in prevalence. Results: There was an improvement in most of the indicators studied: an increase in ex-smokers, a reduction in secondhand smoke and attempts to quit smoking. All pro- and anti-tobacco media exposure indicators declined. When considering the prevalence according to sociodemographic characteristics in 2019, 43.8% (95%CI 41.6–46.0) of men tried to quit smoking, and 50.8% (95%CI 48.5–53.2) of women. Secondhand smoke at home was higher among women (10.2%; 95%CI 9.7–10.8). Among those who thought about quitting smoking because of warnings, the proportion was higher among women (48.0%; 95%CI 45.3–50.6). Tobacco use was higher among men (43.8%; 95%CI 41.6–46.0), in the population aged 40 to 59 years (14.9%; 95%CI 14.2–15.6), with a lower level of education (17.6%; 95%CI 16.8–18.4). Conclusion: The study showed improvement in tobacco-related indicators between the years studied. It is noteworthy that this advance was smaller in relation to the other periods previously analyzed, and therefore, greater investments in public policies to combat and control smoking in Brazil are necessary.