title: Exposition to smoking and attitudes: comparison between inquiries applied to adult population in São Paulo City, 1987 and 2002.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodic monitoring of tobacco smoking in the population is of public health interest.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the prevalence of smoking habits and attitudes toward tobacco smoking from a sample of residents of the City of Sao Paulo, in 1987 and 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two random sampling household surveys were carried out among residents of the City of Sao Paulo, in 1987 and 2002, respectively with 1,471 and 2,103 participants aged 15-59 years
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age-adjusted prevalence of tobacco smoking dropped from 41.8% (in 1987) to 25.5% (in 2002) among males and, respectively, from 30.6% to 19.8% among females, and such reduction was observed in all education levels. There was a decrease in the mean number of cigarettes smoked a day among men (but an increase among women), There was a growth in the preference for low tar cigarettes, an increase in those who quit smoking in the last 10 years, a growth among those who seriously tried to quit smoking, and an increase in those who believe in that "smoking is dangerous for your health".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a favorable change in the situation of smoking habits in the City of Sao Paulo from 1987 to 2002.
authors: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Secretaria do Estado de Saúde, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Luiz Francisco
authors: LF
authors: Marcopito
authors: Ana Paula
authors: AP
authors: Coutinho
authors: Dalva Maria de Oliveira
authors: DM
authors: Valencich
authors: Marco Antonio de
authors: MA
authors: Moraes
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Brumini
authors: Sandra Aparecida
authors: SA
authors: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D012923:Social Class; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution