Smoking among rural and urban young women in China

Abstract

MethodsA survey of 11 095 urban and rural women attending high school or college, aged 14–24 years, in 6 Chinese provinces was conducted. Ever-smoking (ES), current smoking, established smoking and intention to smoke frequencies were calculated. Bivariate analyses were conducted to identify possible correlates of smoking, and those found to be significant at the p=0.1 level were included in a multivariate logistical regression model to obtain adjusted OR for correlates of ES.ResultsES prevalence was 20.1%, with urban female students (UFS) at 22.0% and rural female students (RFS) at 19.0% (p<0.01). Established smoking prevalence was higher among UFS than RFS (2.4% vs 0.9%, p<0.01). Similarly, current smoking prevalence was higher among UFS than RFS (4.2% vs 1.9%, p<0.01). The intention to smoke prevalence was higher among UFS than RFS (3.5% vs 1.7%, p<0.01). The majority were aware that smoking was harmful to health, but were less aware of specific diseases associated with smoking. ES was associated with awareness of cigarettes made for women (OR, 1.66, 95% CI 1.49 to 1.86) and thinking that they were less harmful than other cigarettes (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.33 to 1.79). The strongest correlate of ES was low refusal self-efficacy (OR 6.35, 95% CI 5.32 to 7.57).ConclusionsThis is the first report that having heard of women's cigarettes is a correlate of smoking among young Chinese women. ES among young Chinese women has increased in the last decade, and thus, specific prevention strategies need to be developed to prevent the tobacco epidemic from spreading among this vulnerable population.

Women and tobacco: a call for including gender in tobacco control research, policy and practice

“…Studies in China, India, Indonesia and the Dominican Republic have found that while people (including health professionals) were generally aware that smoking is harmful they were less aware of specific health risks beyond cancer, particularly for those smoking at relatively low levels 90 92–95. One study in China found that over two-thirds of female smokers thought that ‘light’ or low tar cigarettes were less harmful than regular cigarettes,96 while another Chinese study found that awareness of ‘cigarettes made for women’ (women's brands) and believing that they were less harmful to health predicted smoking experimentation in female students 97. With regards to smoking during pregnancy, a study in Pakistan found that only 7% of women knew that smoking could lead to low birth weight; only one third of women knew that smoking caused lung disease 98.…”

An Early-Stage Epidemic: A Systematic Review of Correlates of Smoking Among Chinese Women

“…Between 1993 and 2008, the age for smoking initiation among Chinese women has decreased significantly, and the percentage of heavy smokers (≥20 cigarettes/day) has increased dramatically [2]. A recent survey reported an alarmingly high ever smoking prevalence of 20 % among Chinese adolescent girls and young women aged 14–24 years [20]. With a huge population and a historically low smoking rate among women, China is an almost limitless potential market for the tobacco industry [21,22].…”

Tobacco Smoking, Quitting, and Relapsing Among Adult Males in Mainland China: The China Seven Cities Study

“…Yang et al, 2008 ), with an estimated million tobacco-related deaths annually -more than any other country -a total , which is expected to increase for decades ( Peto, Chen, & Boreham, 2009 ). There are an estimated 300 -350 million Chinese smokers, approximately 57 % -70% of men and 2 % -4% of women, constituting one-third of the world ' s smokers ( Ho et al, 2010 ;Ma et al, 2008 ;World Health Organization, 2008 ;G. Yang et al, 2008 ).…”