Context: Smoking rate in Taiwan became higher since 1987. It may be resulted into two socio-environmental factors: opening markets of foreign cigarettes and area deprivation. This study is to investigate the relationship of smoking with individual socioeconomic status and area deprivation among adults in Taiwan.
Methods: We use two indicators to determine area deprivation in Taiwan, and use individual education level to instead of socioeconomic status (SES), to see if smoking behavior occur more frequently in deprived area and low educational groups. Data of area and individual characteristics were from official statistics and surveys.
Results: 56.2% of male and 3.9% of female adults were current smokers in 1994 in Taiwan. Higher smoking prevalence was observed between both genders in younger generation, especially in male. Among both males and females, current smoking was significantly less prevalent in higher levels of education. Area deprivation was another factor that significantly associated with male smoking.
Conclusions: Both education and area deprivation powerfully determined male's smoking behavior; however, only education was a major determinant to female's smoking behavior. Our results show the necessity of community-based preventive intervention in deprived area and to the lower educational groups.
Learning Objectives: This study is to investigate the relationship of smoking with individual socioeconomic status and area deprivation among adults in Taiwan.
Keywords: Smoking, Taiwan Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.