title: Socioeconomic patterning in tobacco use in Argentina, 2005.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Globally, tobacco is the number one preventable cause of death, killing 1 in 10 adults. By 2030, 80% of all tobacco deaths will occur in developing countries. Social factors drive the adoption and cessation of smoking in high-income countries, but few studies have examined the socioeconomic patterning of smoking in developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the 2005 National Survey of Risk Factors for Non-communicable Diseases in Argentina, we investigated gender-specific socioeconomic patterning of current, former, and never-smoking status; the intensity of smoking; and smokers' readiness for cessation using multinomial logistic and ordinary least squares regression. We also investigated heterogeneity in the patterning by age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher socioeconomic position (SEP) was associated with less smoking for men in all age groups, although the results were most pronounced for men at younger ages (odds ratio [OR] of current vs. never smoking = 0.57, 95% CI 0.51-0.63 for higher vs. lower education at ages 18-24 years). For women, higher SEP was associated with more smoking in older age groups but less smoking in younger age groups (OR = 1.51, CI 1.41-1.62 and OR = 0.86, CI 0.78-0.96 for higher vs. lower education at ages 50-64 and 18-24 years, respectively). Higher SEP was also associated with higher odds of recently quitting compared to not considering quitting for men regardless of age group but for women only in younger age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher burden of smoking among those of lower SEP, especially in younger age groups, is a troubling pattern that is certain to impact future disparities in chronic disease outcomes unless interventions are undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA. nancyfl@umich.edu
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Fleischer
authors.forename: Ana V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Diez Roux
authors.forename: Marcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alazraqui
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lantz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult