PREVALENCE OF SMOKING AND ASSOCIATED FACT ORS IN A METROPOLITAN-AREA OF SOUTHERN BRAZIL

A cross-sectional study was carried out for the purpose of evaluating, the prevalence of smoking and the factors associated with if in Porto Alegre, a city in southern Brazilian. Through proportional, multiple stage, random sampling, 1.091 individuals (92% of those eligible) of 1 8 or more years of age, were interviewed at home. Exposure to smoking was measured by a questionnaire that inquired about the type, quantity and frequency of tobacco use. The prevalence of smoking was 34.9% (CI 31.9 - 37.8). It was higher -among men - 41.5% (CI 38.5 - 44.4) then women - 29.5% (CI 26.8 - 32.2). The former started smoking at mean age of 16 (+/-5.6), with mode of 15 and smoked an average of 19.0 (+/-14. 0) cigarettes per day. Females started at a mean age of 17.8 (+/-6.7), with mode of 14 years old and smoked 14.5 (+/-10.3). The association of the drinking habit and demographic and socioeconomic variables with smoking was evaluated through logistic regression. The variables incl uded in the model were sex, age, education, income, professional quali fication and alcohol consumption. The prevalence of smoking was greate r for men, individuals of lower sociecinomic level, between 30 and 39 years of age, and among those accustomed to consuming alcoholic bevera ges. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that smoking is a public h ealth problem in Brazil as in another countries. It is associated with sex, age, education and professional qualification, as has been obser ved elsewhere. The association of alcohol consumption with smoking may be understood as risk behavior, both having similar determinants.