How has the prevalence of cigarette smoking changed among Australian adults? Trends in smoking prevalence between 1980 and 2001

Abstract

Objective: To examine trends in the prevalence of cigarette smoking between 1980 and 2001 among several different sociodemographic groups within the Australian population. Method: National cross sectional surveys conducted by face to face interview every 3 years from 1980. Respondents were classified into five age groups and the occupation of respondents in the workforce were classified into one of upper or lower white collar or upper or lower blue collar. Main outcome measure: Prevalence of smoking at least weekly. Results: The prevalence of smoking in 2001 was lower than that found in 1980 and this was true for all sociodemographic groups. Among adults smoking prevalence decreased from 35% in 1980 to 23% in 2001. The differential in smoking prevalence between men and women decreased between 1980 and 2001. Although smoking was more common among younger Australians (<24 years) than older Australians throughout the study, the differential between age groups reduced. For all years except 1980, the proportion of smokers among upper white collar workers was significantly lower than in all other occupation groups. Conclusion: There had been a continual decline in the prevalence of smoking among the Australian population since 1980. This decline had occurred across both sexes and in all age and occupation groups. Much of the decline in smoking prevalence between 1998 and 2001 was among blue collar worker group.

Inequalities in smoking prevalence: a missed opportunity for tobacco control in Pakistan

“…Low SES groups are more vulnerable to the tobacco epidemic even in high income countries (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). The common reported reasons are high stress, low literacy and poor social capital among these individuals (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12).…”

“…Tobacco industry internal documents show how opportunity to attract these potential users with targeted marketing are exploited (13). Multiple observational studies have shown that the rate of tobacco cessation is also not uniform within countries, more deprived socioeconomic groups show almost half the rate of decline as compared with the less deprived groups (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). This underscores that tobacco control efforts need to be targeted to these most vulnerable groups.…”

“…The common reported reasons are high stress, low literacy and poor social capital among these individuals (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). In Pakistan, the main contributing factor for high prevalence in low income groups might be the design of pro-poor tobacco pricing policies.…”

“…People from low socioeconomic groups and those who are less educated are the most vulnerable to taking up cigarette smoking (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). In some countries, the working classes and youth are the main targets of tobacco industry (13).…”

Anticipating possible policy uses of addiction neuroscience research

“…Population-based tobacco control strategies, such as taxing cigarettes, banning advertising and restricting the areas where people can smoke, have halved cigarette smoking in Australia (White, Hill, Siahpush, & Bobevski, 2003) and the US (Pierce et al, 1998) over the past three decades. These strategies are much more effective and efficient than strategies that focus only on addicted persons, or persons at high risks of developing addiction (Rose, 1992;Vos et al, 2010).…”