title: Smoking and socioeconomic status in England: the rise of the never smoker and the disadvantaged smoker.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since 2000 various tobacco control measures have been implemented in the UK. Changes in the smoking status of low and high socioeconomic status (SES) groups in England during this period (2001-08) are explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of the Health Survey for England general population samples was undertaken. Over 88 000 adults, age 16 or over, living in England were included. Smoking status (current, ex or never) was reported. SES was assessed through a count of seven possible indicators of disadvantage: National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NSSEC), neighbourhood index of multiple deprivation, lone parenting, car availability, housing tenure, income and unemployment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smoking rates were four times higher among the most disadvantaged [60.7% (95% CI: 58.2-63.3)] than the most affluent [15.3% (95% CI: 14.8-15.8)]. Smoking prevalence declined between 2001 and 2008 except among the multiply disadvantaged. This trend appeared to be due to an increase in never smoking rather than an increase in quitting. Disadvantage declined among non-smokers but not smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general never smoking and affluence increased in England over this period. The disadvantaged, however, did not experience the decline in smoking and smokers missed out from the increase in affluence. Smoking and disadvantage may increasingly coexist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. r.hiscock@bath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hiscock
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bauld
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amos
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Platt
mesh_terms: D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012306:Risk; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012923:Social Class