Smoking patterns and sociodemographic factors associated with tobacco use among Chinese rural male residents: a descriptive analysis.
BACKGROUND
Although evidence has shown high prevalence rates of tobacco use in the general urban populations in China, relatively little is known in its rural population. The purposes of this study were to examine smoking patterns and sociodemographic correlates of smoking in a sample of rural Chinese male residents.


METHODS
The study employed a cross-sectional, multi-stage sampling design. Residents (N = 4,414; aged 15 years and older) were recruited from four geographic regions in China. Information on participants' tobacco use (of all forms), including their daily use, and sociodemographic characteristics were collected via survey questionnaires and the resultant data were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression procedures.


RESULTS
The overall smoking prevalence in the study sample was 66.8% (n = 2,950). Of these, the average use of tobacco products per day was 12.70 (SD = 7.99) and over 60% reported daily smoking of more than 10 cigarettes. Geographic regions of the study areas, age of the participants, marital status, ethnicity, education, occupation, and average personal annual income were found to be significantly associated with an increased likelihood of smoking among rural Chinese male residents.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high smoking prevalence in the Chinese rural population and smoking behaviors are associated with important sociodemographic factors. Findings suggest the need for tobacco control and intervention policies aimed at reducing tobacco use in Chinese rural smoking populations.
Yang
Tingzhong
T
Center for Tobacco Control Research, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, PR China. Tingzhongyang@tom.com
Li
Fuzhong
F
Yang
Xianzhao
X
Wu
Zhenyi
Z
Feng
Xiangxian
X
Wang
Yibo
Y
Wang
Xuhui
X
Abdullah
Abu Saleh M
AS
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires