title: Knowledge and perceptions of smoking according to income level in Morocco.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between income level and variations in knowledge and perceptions about tobacco smoking in Morocco.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Random sample of 9195 subjects representative of the Moroccan population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects aged >15 years from households.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from selected households using a standardized questionnaire about smoking, educational level, household monthly income, and knowledge of health effects of smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stepwise logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for each variable were calculated as an estimate of the likelihood of having knowledge that smoking causes selected diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 9195 subjects, 27.8% reported low income (<2000 Moroccan dirhams [MAD]), and 9.9% reported the highest income level (≥6000 MAD). Higher income was significantly associated with higher knowledge of health effects of smoking (p < .0001); 55% of low-income respondents compared to 71.5% of respondents with higher income knew about the relationship between cigarette smoking and cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower income level was associated with lower awareness of the harms of smoking. There is a need to improve knowledge of the dangers of smoking among the disadvantaged segments of the population.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Community Health, Fez University, Fez, Morocco. elfakirsamira@yahoo.fr
authors: Samira
authors: S
authors: El Fakir
authors: Zineb
authors: Z
authors: Serhier
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Berraho
authors: Karima
authors: K
authors: Elrhazi
authors: Nabil
authors: N
authors: Tachfouti
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Slama
authors: Chakib
authors: C
authors: Nejjari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult