title: The Brazilian smoker: a survey in the largest cities of Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the sociodemographic factors associated with daily consumption of cigarettes and pattern of cigarette use among Brazilian smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed in 2005 involving the 108 largest Brazilian cities. Data were collected through interviews with subjects aged 12 to 65 years in randomly selected households. Based on a questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context, a logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between the sociodemographic characteristics of the sample and smoking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 7,921 subjects interviewed, 16.4% reported daily use of cigarettes. The smoking prevalence was similar between genders, although women reported to start smoking at a later age and smoke fewer cigarettes per day. Almost 65% of the smokers were interested in quitting or reducing their smoking habit. The main sociodemographic characteristics associated with smoking were as follows: adult age (30-59 years old), unemployment, low education level, and low socioeconomic level. Alcohol abuse was also shown to be associated with smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that adverse socioeconomic characteristics are implicated in increased susceptibility to smoking in Brazil. In our sample, a high proportion of smokers reported interest to quit or reduce smoking. These data suggest that sociodemographic factors should be considered in the elaboration of smoking prevention and treatment policies.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo. emerita@psicobio.epm.br
authors.forename: Emérita Sátiro
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Opaleye
authors.forename: Zila M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Yone Gonçalves de
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: José Carlos Fernandes
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Galduróz
authors.forename: Danilo Polverini
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: Ana Regina
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Noto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult