Smoking Prevalence Among Users of Primary Healthcare Units in Brazil: The Role of Religiosity.
The objective of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association between religious involvement and tobacco use in a large representative sample of users of primary healthcare units of Ribeirão Preto, Southeast Brazil. Current and past smoking habits were determined among 1055 users of primary healthcare units. Participants' religiosity was measured using the DUREL questionnaire. The prevalence of smoking among men was 16.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 12.0-22.5] and among women was 12.6% (95% CI 10.4-15.0). Among the current smokers, 40.9% were light smokers, 24.6% were moderate smokers, and 34.5% were heavy smokers. The mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was 13.5. Respondents who have a religion had a lower smoking prevalence than people who had no religion. Current smoking prevalence tended to be higher among people who do not practice their religion than people who practice their religion. Smoking status is also associated with self-reported religiosity, organizational religious activity and some aspects of intrinsic religiosity. Religiosity is an important factor in influencing the smoking behavior in Brazilian users of the public health services.
Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil. edson@fmrp.usp.br.
Edson Zangiacomi
EZ
Martinez
Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil.
Flávia Masili
FM
Giglio
Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil.
Natalia Akemi Yamada
NAY
Terada
Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil.
Anderson Soares
AS
da Silva
Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil.
Miriane Lucindo
ML
Zucoloto
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Public health services; Religion; Religiosity; Smoking