Tobacco use in South Africans during 1998: the first demographic and health survey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine smoking patterns in South Africa, and to identify groups requiring culturally appropriate smoking cessation programmes.


METHODS
A random sample of 13,826 people (> 15 years), was interviewed to identify tobacco use patterns and respiratory symptoms. Peak expiratory flow rates were measured. Multinomial regression analyses identified sociodemographic factors related to tobacco use, and the latter's association with respiratory conditions.


RESULTS
In 1998, 24.6% adults (44.2% of males and 11.0% of females) smoked regularly. Coloured women had a higher rate (39%) than African women (5.4%). About 24% of the regular smokers had attempted to quit, with only 9.9% succeeding. African women (13.2%) used smokeless tobacco more frequently than others. Of the nonsmokers 28% and 19% were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in their homes and workplaces, respectively. The regression analysis showed that the demographic characteristics of light smokers (1-14 tobacco equivalents per day) and heavy smokers (> or = 15 tobacco equivalents per day) differed. Light smoking occurred significantly more frequently in the poorest, least educated and urban people. The relative risk for light smoking was 18 in Coloured women compared with African women. Heavy smoking occurred most frequently in the highest educated group. A dose-response was observed between the amount smoked and the presence of respiratory diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking in South Africa is decreasing and should continue with the recently passed tobacco control legislation. Culturally appropriate tobacco cessation programmes for the identified target groups need to be developed.
Chronic Disease of Lifestyle Unit of the Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa. krisela.steyn@mrc.ac.za
Krisela
K
Steyn
Debbie
D
Bradshaw
Rosana
R
Norman
Ria
R
Laubscher
Yussuf
Y
Saloojee
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution