[Random sample survey on the prevalence of smoking in the major cities of Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To provide access to the results of a randomized cross-sectional study conducted by the Brazilian Center for Information on Psychotropic Drugs in 2001.


METHODS
This survey involved a random sample of individuals ranging from 12 to 65 years of age and residing in the 107 largest cities (over 200,000 inhabitants) in Brazil, which represented 27.7% of the Brazilian population, estimated to be 169,799,170 inhabitants at the time. A total of 8,589 interviews were conducted. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration questionnaire, translated and adapted for use in Brazil, was used in the interviews.


RESULTS
Of the sample as a whole, 41.1% of the interviewees reported having experimented with tobacco products. The prevalence of daily smokers was 17.4% (20.3% among males and 14.8% among females). We found that 9% of the sample (10.1% of the men and 7.9% of the women) were nicotine-dependent, according to the criteria of the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of current smoking in the 107 largest cities of Brazil is significantly lower in this decade than was the national prevalence at the end of last century.
Leitão Filho
Fernando Sergio
FS
Técnico de Apoio em Pesquisa. Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, Brasil.
Galduróz
José Carlos Fernandes
JC
Noto
Ana Regina
AR
Nappo
Solange Aparecida
SA
Carlini
Elisaldo Araújo
EA
Nascimento
Oliver Augusto
OA
Santos
Sérgio Ricardo
SR
Jardim
José Roberto
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult