Decennial trends of social differentials in smoking habits in Italy (original) (raw)

Abstract

Objective: To present social trends of smoking habits in Italy during the period 1980–1994.

Methods: Data from five national health surveys (1980, 1983, 1986–1987, 1990–1991, 1994) were analyzed in order to calculate smoking prevalences. Education attained was used as social class indicator. Main measures: SDPs (prevalence rate standardized on the 1981 Italian population) and PRs (prevalence ratios primary school/degree). Confidence intervals and _p_-values were calculated as indicators of statistical significance.

Results: Among men SDP decreased from 59.5% in 1980 to 37.3% in 1994 and PRs for social classes varied from 1.21 in 1980 to 1.47 in 1994. Corresponding results for women were 17.9% to 20.0% and 0.36 to 0.73.

Conclusions: Lower-educated men smoke more than those in higher social categories, and data collected during 1980–1994 in Italy show a tendency to increase such differentials. Among women this pattern was the opposite in 1980, with a tendency to reduce differences over time. Therefore, for both genders data show a progressive disadvantage for the low-educated categories. The greater compliance of better-educated groups with anti-smoking interventions must be taken into account, and should suggest “unequal” interventions that can be more effective among disadvantaged social groups.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McGinnis JM, Foege WH (1993) Actual causes of deaths in the United States. JAMA 270: 2207–2212.
    Google Scholar
  2. Gnavi R, Cadum E, Dalmasso M, Demaria M, Vespa G, Costa G (1998) La mortalità in Piemonte negli anni 1992–94, Regione Piemonte, Torino.
    Google Scholar
  3. Costa G, Faggiano F, Cadum E, et al. (1994) Le differenze sociali nella mortalità in Itali`a. In: Costa G, Faggiano F eds. L'equilità nella salute in Italia. Milano: Franco Angeli, pp. 103–135.
    Google Scholar
  4. ISTAT (1990–1991) La mortalità differenziale secondo alcuni fattori socio economici anni 1981–82. Note r relazioni No. 2. Rome: ISTAT.
    Google Scholar
  5. Faggiano F, Lemma P, Costa G, Gnavi R, Pagnanelli F (1995) Cancer mortality by educational level in Italy. Cancer Causes Control 6: 311–320.
    Google Scholar
  6. Hart N (2000) The social and economic environment and human health. In: Detels R, Holland WW, McEwen J, Omenn GS, eds. Oxford Textbook of Public Health, 3rd edn. vol. 1, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 95–123.
    Google Scholar
  7. Marmot MG (1989) Socioeconomic determinants of CHD mortality. Int J Epidemiol 18: S196–S202.
    Google Scholar
  8. Joossens L, Naett C, Howie C, Muldoon A (1994) Tobacco and health in the European Union. An overview. Brussels: European Bureau for Action on Smoking Prevention [BASP].
    Google Scholar
  9. Nelson DE, Emont SL (1994) Cigarette smoking prevalence by occupation in the United States, A comparison between 1978 to 1980 and 1987 to 1990–1991. J Occup Med 36: 516–525.
    Google Scholar
  10. Pierce JP, Fiore MC (1989) Trends in cigarette smoking in the United States. Educational differences are increasing. JAMA 261: 56–60.
    Google Scholar
  11. Whitehead M (1992) The health divide. In: Townsend P, Whitehead M, Davidson N, eds. Inequalities in Health. London: Penguin, pp. 219–437.
    Google Scholar
  12. Pierce JP (1989) International comparisons of trends in cigarette smoking prevalence. Am J Publ Health 79: 152–157.
    Google Scholar
  13. La Vecchia C (1986) Smoking in Italy, 1949–1983. Prev Med 15: 274–281.
    Google Scholar
  14. Ferraroni M, La Vecchia C, Pagano R, Negri E, Decarli A (1989) Smoking in Italy 1986–1987. Tumori 75: 521–526.
    Google Scholar
  15. La Vecchia C, Pagano R, Decarli A, Ferraroni M (1994) Smoking in Italy, 1990–1991. Tumori 80: 175–180.
    Google Scholar
  16. Pagano R, La Vecchia C, Decarli A (1996) Smoking in Italy, 1994. Tumori 82: 309–313.
    Google Scholar
  17. ISTAT (1983) Indagine statistica sulle condizioni di sahute ed il ricorso ai servizi sanitari — novembre 1980. Rome: ISTAT.
    Google Scholar
  18. ISTAT (1986) Indagine statistica sulle condizioni di salute della popolazione e sul ricorso ai servizi sanitari. Novembre 1983. Rome: ISTAT.
    Google Scholar
  19. ISTAT (1991) Indagine statistica sulle condizioni di salute della popolazione e sul ricorso ai servizi sanitari. Novembre 1986 — Aprile 1987. Rome: ISTAT.
    Google Scholar
  20. ISTAT (1994) Indagine multiscopo sulle famiglie, Anni 1987–91. Condizioni di salute e ricorso ai servizi sanitari. No. 10. Rome: ISTAT.
    Google Scholar
  21. ISTAT (1996) Stili di vita e condizioni di salute. Indagini multiscopo sulle famigli, Anni 1993–1994, Argomenti No. 2. Rome: ISTAT.
    Google Scholar
  22. Armitage P, Berry G (1987) Statistical Methods in Medical Research. Oxford: Blackwell.
    Google Scholar
  23. Graham H (1996) Smoking prevalence among women in the European Community 1950–1990–1991, Soc Sci Med 43: 243–254.
    Google Scholar
  24. Cobalti A (1988) Mobili e diseguali. Polis II, 53–82.
    Google Scholar
  25. Rogers E, Shoemaker F (1971) Communication of Innovations: a cross-cultural approach. London: Collier Macmillan.
    Google Scholar
  26. Green LW, Kreuter MW (1991) Health promotion today and a framework for planning. In: Green LW, Kreuter MW, eds. Health Promotion Planning: An Educational and Environmental Approach, 2nd edn. Mountain View, CA: Maryfield, pp. 1–43.
    Google Scholar
  27. Bauman KE, Bryan ES, Dent CW, Kich GG (1983) The influence of observing carbon monoxide level on cigarette smoking by public prenatal patients. Am J Publ Health 73: 1089–1091.
    Google Scholar
  28. Jason LA, Tait E, Goodman D, Buckenberg L, Gruder CL (1988) Effects of a televised smoking cessation intervention among low-income and minority smokers. Am J Commun Psychol 16: 863–875.
    Google Scholar
  29. O'Loughlin JL, Lampron GP, Sacks-Silver GE (1990) Evaluation of a smoking cessation guide for low income, functionally illiterate women: a pilot study. Can J Public Health 81: 471–472.
    Google Scholar
  30. Macaskill P, Pierce JP, Simpson JM, Lyle DM (1992) Mass medialed antismoking campaign can aid remove the education gap in quitting behaviour. Am J Public Health 82: 96–98.
    Google Scholar
  31. Townsend J, Roderick P, Cooper J (1994) Cigarette smoking by socioeconomic group, sex, and age: effects of price, income, and health publicity. BMJ 309: 923–927.
    Google Scholar
  32. Townsend J (1996) Price and consumption of tobacco. Br Med Bull 52: 132–142.
    Google Scholar
  33. Lancaster T, Silangy C, Fowler G, Spiers I (2000) Training health professionals in smoking cessation (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 4. Oxford: Update Software.
    Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, University of Torino, Via Santena 5bis, 10126 –, Torino, Italy
    Fabrizio Faggiano, Elisabetta Versino & Patrizia Lemma

Authors

  1. Fabrizio Faggiano
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Elisabetta Versino
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Patrizia Lemma
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Faggiano, F., Versino, E. & Lemma, P. Decennial trends of social differentials in smoking habits in Italy.Cancer Causes Control 12, 665–671 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011247024979

Download citation