Tobacco smoking in Tanzania, East Africa: population based smoking prevalence using expired alveolar carbon monoxide as a validation tool.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of tobacco smoking in an urban East African population while using a simple validation procedure to examine the degree of under reporting in men and women.


METHODS
A cross sectional population based study in adults (15 years and over) with sampling from a well maintained census register.


METHODS
Ilala Ilala, a middle income district of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.


METHODS
An age and sex stratified random sample of 973 men and women.


METHODS
Self reported smoking status with correction by exhaled alveolar carbon monoxide (EACO).


RESULTS
From the 605 participants (response rate 67.9%) age standardised (new world population) smoking prevalence, based on questionnaire and EACO, was 27.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 20.8% to 33.2%) in males and 5.0% (95% CI 2.8% to 7.2%) in females. The age specific prevalence of smoking was highest in the age group 35-54 years (34.3%) for men and in the over 54 years group (16%) for women. Of those classified as smokers, 7.3% of men and 27.3% of women were reclassified as current smokers based on EACO (> or = 9 parts per million), after they had reported themselves to be an ex- or non-smoker in the questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest: (1) high rates of smoking among men in an urban area of East Africa; and (2) the importance of validating self reports of smoking status, particularly among women.
Jagoe
K
K
Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology/ Public Health, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Framlington Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. kristiejagoe@hotmail.com
Edwards
R
R
Mugusi
F
F
Whiting
D
D
Unwin
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013636:Tanzania; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002248:Carbon Monoxide