CIGARETTE-SMOKING IN CHINA - PREVALENCE, CHARACTERISTICS, AND ATTITUDES IN MINHANG DISTRICT

Objective.-To determine the prevalence, pattern, and financial implica tions of cigarette smoking and the attitudes toward and knowledge of t he health effects of tobacco use in a population in China. Design.-A t wo-stage, stratified cluster survey using door-to-door interviews. Set ting.-Minhang District, China (near Shanghai), with a population of 50 6 000. Participants.-A total of 3423 males and 3593 females aged 15 ye ars and older. Main Outcome Measures.-Smoking prevalence, age of initi ation of smoking, reasons for smoking, knowledge of tobacco hazards, a nd costs of smoking. Results.-A total of 2279 males (67%) but only 72 females (2%) smoke. Many males initiate smoking in adulthood. A total of 1156 males (50.7%) began smoking between 20 and 24 years of age, an d 666 (29.2%) began between 25 and 39 years of age. Among all responde nts, 6202 (88.4%) believe smoking is harmful for both the smoker and t hose exposed passively to the smoke. Only 332 (14.1%) of all male smok ers reported a desire to quit smoking. Current smokers spent an averag e of 3.65 yuan daily on cigarettes or 1332 yuan yearly (8.5 yuan per U S dollar), which represents 60% of personal income and 17% of househol d income. Conclusions.-The survey reveals a dangerous health situation that in all likelihood will worsen. More than two thirds of men smoke , and people in successive age cohorts start smoking at earlier ages. Smokers spend a substantial proportion of their income on cigarettes. There is a low rate of quitting and a low desire to quit despite high awareness of the health hazards. Tobacco control measures need to be i mplemented urgently in China.