Determinants of tobacco smoking among rural-to-urban migrant workers: a cross-sectional survey in Shanghai

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough there are several studies to investigate the smoking behaviors among rural-to-urban Chinese migrants, no study has focused individually on this population in Shanghai. This study was performed to estimate the prevalence and identify the determinants of tobacco smoking among rural-to-urban migrants in Shanghai.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, multi-stage quota sampling was used to select 5,856 rural-to-urban migrants aged 18 years or older from seven districts in Shanghai between July and October 2012. A structured questionnaire was administered to assess smoking knowledge, attitude, behavior and demographic characteristics. Mental health was assessed by the self-reported SCL-90. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors of smoking behavior.ResultsA total of 5,380 of the 5,856 migrants enrolled completed the questionnaire, among whom 45.0% of male and 2.0% of female participants reported current smoking. Multivariate analysis revealed current smoking in female migrants to be significantly associated with working at construction (OR, 8.08; 95% CI, 1.80-36.28), hotels/restaurants (OR, 5.06; 95% CI, 1.68-15.27), entertainment sector (OR, 6.79; 95% CI, 2.51-18.42), with monthly income > 3500 yuan (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.21-5.98), number of migratory cities of 2 (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.23-4.65), and SCL-90 total score > 160 (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.03-3.98), while the male migrants working at construction (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.04-1.62), entertainment sector (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.36-2.56), being divorced/widowed (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.02-4.74), with duration of migration of 4 or more than 4 years (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.06-1.91), number of migratory cities of 3 or more than 3 (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.13-1.80), and SCL-90 total score > 160 (OR,1.39; 95% CI, 1.07-1.79) showed an excess smoking prevalence.ConclusionMigration lifestyle and mental status were associated with current smoking behaviors. The identifications of risk factors for current smoking may help to target health promotion interventions.

Migrant Workers and Psychological Health: A Systematic Review

“…Multivariate analysis revealed smoking in female migrants to be significantly associated with working at construction (OR 8.08), hotels/restaurants (OR 5.06), and the entertainment sector (OR 6.79). The male migrants working at construction (OR 1.30), entertainment sector (OR 1.86), being divorced (OR 2.20), with duration of migration of four or more than four years (OR 1.42), and number of migratory cities of three or more than three (OR 1.42) showed an excess smoking prevalence [70].…”

The long run health consequences of rural‐urban migration

“…In this respect, our work provides a useful empirical input to a current policy issue. Researchers who study public health in China have expressed concern that rural to urban migration in that country is fueling a national smoking epidemic (Yang, Wu, Rockett, Abdullah, Beard, and Ye (), Liu et al (), Ji, Liu, Zhao, Jiang, Zeng, and Chang ()), a fact also acknowledged in a recent report by the World Health Organization (World Health Organization ()). Evidence that rural‐urban migrants suffer poorer health than their rural counterparts has also surfaced in India (Reddy, Shah, Varghese, and Ramadoss ()) and Indonesia (Lu ()).…”

Evaluation of the effectiveness of a WHO-5A model based comprehensive tobacco control program among migrant workers in Guangdong, China: a pilot study

“…Studies showed that the smoking rate among migrant workers was 32.5% (55.3% for male and 1.9% for female) [7], higher than that of the general population [2]. Many socioeconomic factors such as poor education [6], work pressure [8], as well as migration-related features [8,9] such as the numbers of migratory cities and the duration of stay, contributed to the high smoking prevalence.…”