title: Patterns of smoking among Singaporeans.
abstract: In the mid-seventies, a few base-line survey showed an average of about 25% of adults (aged 15 years and above) were regular smokers. Males predominated (6-8:1), prevalence increased with age reaching peak after 40 years and cigarette consumption was 16/day in males and 10/day in females. Malays tended to have higher smoking rates, so were those with little or no education. In 1984, a repeat survey showed the overall rate at 19% and the age-specific rates had declined, especially in the group above 40 years (by up to 30%). Again, in 1987, another survey showed the overall rate at 13.6% and age-specific rates declined by another 30% from 1984. With the National Smoking Control Programme at full steam, there is every prospect that we will be able to achieve our goal of becoming a nation of non-smokers.
authors: Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors: H P
authors: HP
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution