Neighbourhood non-employment and daily smoking: a population-based study of women and men in Sweden.
BACKGROUND
To examine whether neighbourhood non-employment is associated with daily smoking after adjustment for individual characteristics, such as employment status.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of a simple, random sample of 31,164 women and men aged 25-64, representative of the entire population in Sweden. Data were collected from the years 1993-2000. The individual variables included age, sex, employment status, occupation and housing tenure. Logistic regression was used in the analysis with neighbourhood non-employment rates measured at small area market statistics level.


RESULTS
There was a significant association between neighbourhood non-employment rates and daily smoking for both women and men. After adjustment for employment status and housing tenure the odds ratios of daily smoking were 1.39 (95% CI = 1.22-1.58) for women and 1.41 (95% CI = 1.23-1.61) for men living in neighbourhoods with the highest non-employment rates. The individual variables of unemployment, low occupational level and renting were associated with daily smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
Neighbourhood non-employment is associated with daily smoking. Smoking prevention in primary health care should address both individuals and neighbourhoods.
Ohlander
Emma
E
Karolinska Institutet, Family Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden.
Vikström
Max
M
Lindström
Martin
M
Sundquist
Kristina
K
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D017062:Small-Area Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014478:Unemployment