Patterns of active and passive smoking, and associated factors, in the South-east Anatolian Project (SEAP) region in Turkey.
BACKGROUND
Smoking is an important health threat in Turkey. This study aimed to determine the frequency of and main factors associated with smoking in persons of 15 years and over, and the frequency of passive smoking in homes in the South-east Anatolian Project (SEAP) Region in Turkey.


METHODS
A cross sectional design was employed. The sample was chosen by the State Institute of Statistics using a stratified cluster probability sampling method. 1126 houses representing the SEAP Region were visited. Questionnaires about tobacco smoking and related factors were applied to 2166 women and 1906 men (of 15 years old and above) in their homes. Face-to-face interview methods were employed. Participants were classified as current, ex, and non-smokers. The presence of a regular daily smoker in a house was used as an indication of passive smoking. The chi-square and logistic regression analysis methods were used for the statistical analysis.


RESULTS
The prevalence of smoking, in those of 15 years and over, was 11.8% in women and 49.7% in men. The prevalence of current smokers was higher in urban (34.5%) than in rural (22.8%) regions. The mean of total cigarette consumption was 6.5 packs/year in women and 17.9 packs/year in men. There was at least one current smoker in 70.1% of the houses.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking is a serious problem in the South-eastern Anatolian Region. Male gender, middle age, a high level of education and urban residency were most strongly associated with smoking.
Bozkurt
Ali I
AI
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. abozkurt@pamukkale.edu.tr
Sahinöz
Saime
S
Ozçirpici
Birgül
B
Ozgür
Servet
S
Sahinöz
Turgut
T
Acemoglu
Hamit
H
Saka
Günay
G
Ceylan
Ali
A
Palanci
Yilmaz
Y
Ilçin
Ersen
E
Akkafa
Feridun
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution