TRENDS IN CIGARETTE-SMOKING HABITS IN THE NETHERLANDS IN RELATION TO AGE, GENDER AND EDUCATIONAL-LEVEL 1987-1991

The objective of the study was to obtain information on recent trends in smoking habits in socioeconomic subgroups (gender, age and educatio nal level) in The Netherlands. The data were analysed from the Monitor ing Project on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors yearly cross-sectio nal surveys that were performed between 1987 and 1991. Each year a ran dom sample of men and women aged 20-59 years in three towns in The Net herlands was invited to participate in the study. The overall response rate was 50% for men and 57% for women. A total of over 36,000 subjec ts participated in the study. The age-standardized prevalence of curre nt, former and never smoking was the outcome measure. Data on smoking habits were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. T he age-standardized smoking prevalence between 1987 and 1991 fell from 41.4 to 38.9% in men (-0.5 percentage points per year and 95% CI: -1. 0 to -0.02) and from 42.0 to 38.2% in women (-0.8 percentage points pe r year and 95% CI: -1.3 to -0.3). The prevalence of current smoking de creased in men with low education and in women with low and intermedia te/high education. In the 1961-1970 birth cohort of men with intermedi ate/high education a relatively large increase of 2.8 percentage point s (95% CI: 1.0-4.5) per year was observed. The decrease in smoking pre valence observed between 1987 and 1991 was small compared to the perio d before 1987. Differences in the magnitude and direction of trends we re observed between birth cohorts and educational levels. The results of the study emphasize the need for an approach that is targeted towar d specific sociodemographic subgroups.