Cent Eur J Public Health 2015, 23(4):299-305 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4067

Socioeconomic Disparities in Age of Initiation and Ever Tobacco Smoking: Findings from Romania

Dorota Kaleta1, Bukola Usidame2, El¿bieta Dziankowska-Zaborszczyk3, Teresa Makowiec-D±browska4
1 Tobacco Control Department, Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical University of £ód¼, £ód¼, Poland
2 Department of Public Policy, University of Massachusetts, Boston, United States
3 Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of £ód¼, £ód¼, Poland
4 Department of Work Physiology and Ergonomics, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, £ód¼, Poland

Aim: Smoking initiation is considered the fundamental behaviour that determines the future health burden of tobacco smoking in a society. The aim of the study was to evaluate the socio-demographic factors associated with initiation of regular smoking among adults.

Methods: The data source was the 2011 Global Adult Tobacco Survey Romania (GATS), which is a cross-sectional, nationally representative study. Multivariate logistic regression model was applied for relevant analysis.

Results: Among males, the regular smoking initiation rate was significantly higher compared to females (52.4% vs. 18.5%; p<0.001). Mean age of smoking initiation was lower in men compared to women (18.4 ± 4.8 vs. 21.5 ± 6.8; p<0.001). Age in men, awareness of environmental tobacco smoke consequences and place of living for women as well as educational attainment and employment status in both genders were associated with ever regular smoking. Moreover, cohabitation with a smoker was associated with greater odds for initiating smoking among both genders.

Conclusions: GATS revealed a significant but diverse role of socioeconomic factors in initiation of regular smoking among adult Romanians.

Keywords: tobacco smoking, smoking initiation, socioeconomic factors, tobacco control, adults, GATS, Romania

Received: August 14, 2014; Revised: March 7, 2015; Accepted: March 7, 2015; Published: December 30, 2015  Show citation

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Kaleta D, Usidame B, Dziankowska-Zaborszczyk E, Makowiec-D±browska T. Socioeconomic Disparities in Age of Initiation and Ever Tobacco Smoking: Findings from Romania. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2015;23(4):299-305. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a4067. PubMed PMID: 26841142.
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