Trends in educational inequalities in smoking in northern, mid and southern Italy, 1980–2000 (original) (raw)
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Socioeconomic inequalities in smoking habits are still increasing in Italy
BMC Public Health, 2014
Background: Socioeconomic inequalities in smoking habits have stabilized in many Western countries. This study aimed at evaluating whether socioeconomic disparities in smoking habits are still enlarging in Italy and at comparing the impact of education and occupation. Methods: In the frame of the GEIRD study (Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases) 10,494 subjects, randomly selected from the general population aged 20-44 years in seven Italian centres, answered a screening questionnaire between 2007 and 2010 (response percentage = 57.2%). In four centres a repeated cross-sectional survey was performed: smoking prevalence recorded in GEIRD was compared with prevalence recorded between 1998 and 2000 in the Italian Study of Asthma in Young Adults (ISAYA). Results: Current smoking was twice as prevalent in people with a primary/secondary school certificate (40-43%) compared with people with an academic degree (20%), and among unemployed and workmen (39%) compared with managers and clerks (20-22%). In multivariable analysis smoking habits were more affected by education level than by occupation. From the first to the second survey the prevalence of ever smokers markedly decreased among housewives, managers, businessmen and free-lancers, while ever smoking became even more common among unemployed (time-occupation interaction: p = 0.047). At variance, the increasing trend in smoking cessation was not modified by occupation. Conclusion: Smoking prevalence has declined in Italy during the last decade among the higher socioeconomic classes, but not among the lower. This enlarging socioeconomic inequality mainly reflects a different trend in smoking initiation.
Decennial trends of social differences in smoking habits in Italy: a 30-year update
Cancer Causes & Control, 2013
Purpose To update educational inequalities in smoking in Italy up to 2009, with an in-depth analysis of female prevalence. Methods Data from 15 national health surveys () were analyzed. The overall sample size was representative of the population older than 25 years of age (3,300,000 men and 3,620,000 women). Main measures smoking prevalence rates standardized to the 2,000 European population, prevalence ratios by educational level (high: university degree or high school diploma; low: primary or middle school diploma), area (north, center, south and islands), and agegroup (25-44, 45-59, [=60 years). Trends in tobacco prevalence were also analyzed with a multivariate approach using the negative binomial distribution. Results Although male prevalence steadily declined of about 2 % annually from 56.1 % in 1980 to 30.2 % in 2009, educational inequalities slightly widened, recording in 2009 a 53 % higher prevalence in men with low educational level compared to graduates. Even though female prevalence stalled around 18 % in the last three decades, this was the result of opposite trends by educational group.
2018
There has been a dearth of literature on smoking inequalities, in spite of its contribution to health inequalities. We exploit longitudinal Italian individual-level data to identify the main socio-demographic characteristics that determine smoking inequalities. We use the Erreygers Concentration Index to identify in which groups smoking is relatively more prevalent. We find that, among men, pro-poor prevalence is driven by members of the lower socio-economic classes, while we observe the opposite for women. We encourage policymakers to address the issue of smoking inequalities, which the current policies have largely disregarded.
Socioeconomic Differences in Tobacco Smoking in Italy: Is There an Interaction between Variables?
The Scientific World Journal, 2012
Objectives. To assess the influence of sociodemographic factors on smoking habits in Italy and if an interaction exists between these variables. Methods. Data from the national survey "Health Conditions and Healthcare Services Use" in 2005 were used. The independent association between tobacco smoking and sociodemographical variables was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Interactions between variables were investigated calculating the synergism index (SI). Results. Sample population consists of 109.829 subjects (over 15 years). 21.9% are current and 21.8% are former smokers. Current smokers are mostly 45-54-years old males, from Central Italy, unemployed, divorced or separated but having a good health status without chronic medical conditions. Ever smokers are mostly 45-54 years old males, from Northeast Italy, unemployed, with chronic conditions. People with a university degree and with a good household income have the lowest OR for both conditions. A synergistic effect was found between marital status and educational level (for ever smokers SI = 1.96; for current smokers SI = 1.67). Conclusions. Smoking is prevalent in lower socioeconomic groups and there is the strong need to increase social, economic and cultural capital in order to reduce it.
Smoking inequality across genders and socio-economic positions. Evidence from Italian data
Journal of Bioeconomics
There has been a dearth of literature on smoking inequalities, in spite of its contribution to health inequalities. We exploit Italian individual-level data from repeated cross-sections of the annual household survey, “Aspects of Daily Life,” that was part of the Multipurpose Survey carried out by the Italian National Statistical Office (ISTAT) for the period 1999–2012 to identify the main socio-demographic characteristics that determine smoking inequalities. We use the Concentration Index to identify in which groups smoking is relatively more prevalent. We find that, among men, pro-rich inequality is driven by members of the lower socio-economic positions, while we observe the opposite for women. We encourage policymakers to address the issue of smoking inequalities, which the current policies have largely disregarded.
Trends of smoking habits in northern Italy (1986–1990
European Journal of Epidemiology, 1995
The trends of age-gender specific prevalence of self-reported smoking habits are presented, observed in two population surveys, performed in 1986–87 and 1989–90 in Area Brianza, a northern Italian industrialized district where a WHO MONICA Centre is located. Methods were internationally standardized to obtain comparable data on two inde pendent random samples, each composed of 1,600 subjects, age-sex stratified and extracted from the 25–64 year old residents. A closed question interview was administered to identify smoking condition (smoker, past-smoker, occasional smoker, never smoker), number of cigarettes consumed per day and attained educational level, categorized in compulsory school and post-compulsory school. Serum thiocyanate was measured as a validation index, using a cutpoint of >100 µmol l−1 to detect false negatives. Trends in smoking prevalence are analyzed taking into account influences of education in the presence of an anti-smoking policy that was started in Italy toward the end of the eighties. Self-reported data, confirmed by serum thiocyanate, show a consistent decline of smokers among males (from 48 to 41%), more evident in younger age groups. In females, smoking prevalence is stable (23–24%), although thiocyanate levels in the whole samples indicate a slight but significant tendency to decrease. Education demonstrates positive influences against smoking, particularly in younger male classes. In females a crossover effect is observable: in the second survey youngest group, education results protective against smoking; the contrary is true in the older groups. Our data, detailing what was initially recognized in previous Italian surveys, may be useful to specify the directions of future preventive actions.
Smoking in Italy 2013-2014, with a focus on the young
Tumori Journal, 2015
To update trends in smoking prevalence in Italy to 2003, with specific focus on the young. Methods: A population-based, face-to-face survey conducted in February-April 2003 on 3,535 individuals aged 15 or over, representative of the whole Italian adult population, plus an over sampling of 426 subjects aged 15 to 24 years. Results: Overall, 27.6% of Italians described themselves as current cigarette smokers (33.2% men, 22.5% women); 20.1% of men and 8.0% of women smoked 15 or more cigarettes per day. Ex-smokers were 16.6% (22.5% men, 11.2% women). No appreciable difference with reference to geographic area was observed. Less educated men, but more educated women, were
European Journal of Epidemiology
The trends of age-gender specific prevalence of self-reported smoking habits are presented, observed in two population surveys, performed in 1986-87 and 1989-90 in Area Brianza, a northern Italian industrialized district where a WHO MONICA Centre is located. Methods were internationally standardized to obtain comparable data on two independent random samples, each composed of 1,600 subjects, age-sex stratified and extracted from the 25-64 year old residents. A closed question interview was administered to identify smoking condition (smoker, past-smoker, occasional smoker, never smoker), number of cigarettes consumed per day and attained educational level, categorized in compulsory school and post-compulsory school. Serum thiocyanate was measured as a validation index, using a cutpoint of > 100 gmol 1 -~ to detect false negatives. Trends in smoking prevalence are analyzed taking into account influences of education in the presence of an anti-smoking policy that was started in Italy toward the end of the eighties. Self-reported data, confirmed by serum thiocyanate, show a consistent decline of smokers among males (from 48 to 41%), more evident in younger age groups. In females, smoking prevalence is stable (23-24%), although thiocyanate levels in the whole samples indicate a slight but significant tendency to decrease. Education demonstrates positive influences against smoking, particularly in younger male classes. In females a crossover effect is observable: in the second survey youngest group, education results protective against smoking; the contrary is true in the older groups. Our data, detailing what was initially recognized in previous Italian surveys, may be useful to specify the directions of future preventive actions.