Prevalence and correlates of tobacco smoking in Sri Lanka.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the prevalence and underlying sociodemographic correlates of smoking among Sri Lankans.


METHODS
A cross-sectional sample (N = 5000, age >18 years) was selected using a multistage random cluster sampling. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
Response rate was 91% (n = 4532); males 40%; mean age 46.1 years (±15.1). Overall, urban and rural prevalence of current smoking (smoking) was 18.3%, 17.2%, and 18.5%, respectively (P = nonsignificant, urban vs rural). Smoking was much higher in males than in females (38.0% vs 0.1%, P < .0001). Ex-smokers comprised 10.0% (males 20.7%, females 0.1%, P < .0001). Among the smokers 87.0% smoked <10 cigarettes per day. The male age groups < 20 and 20 to 29 years had the lowest (15.6%) and the highest (44.6%) prevalence of smoking, respectively. In males, smoking was highest in the least educated (odds ratio = 1.96, P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking is common among Sri Lankan males and is associated with lower education, income, and middle age.
Katulanda
Prasad
P
University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. prasad.katulanda@ocdem.ox.ac.uk
Wickramasinghe
Kremlin
K
Mahesh
Jayaweera G
JG
Rathnapala
Amila
A
Constantine
Godwin R
GR
Sheriff
Rezvi
R
Matthews
David R
DR
Fernando
Shyam S D
SS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult