OBJECTIVES

: To examine gender differences in smoking habit by socioeconomic factors in a representative Japanese population

METHODS

: 2,891 residents agreed to participate in the baseline survey of NIPPON DATA 2010. Smoking habit and educational and marital status were asked by questionnaire. Respondents, who reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes or for 6 months or more in their lifetime and who, at the time of survey, smoked either every day or sometimes for the last one month were defined as current smoker. Non-smokers included past smokers and never smokers. Age was categorized into younger (20-39 years), middle age (40-59 years), and older (60 years and more). Length of education was divided into two categories: 12 years or less, and 13 years or more. Marital status was either single (unmarried, divorce and widowed), or married. Household equivalent expenditure was divided into 0-9 ten thousand Japanese Yen and 10-999 ten thousand Japanese Yen. Logistic regression model was used and multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

: Compared with length of education of 13 years or more, OR (95%CI) of being a current smoker for 12 years or less were 1.79 (1.11-2.91) and 1.72 (1.04-2.84) in men in middle age and older, respectively. Compared with length of education of 13 years or more, OR (95%CI) of being a current smoker for younger and middle age women were 3.68 (1.71-7.89) and 1.74 (0.22-16.66) in length of education of 12 years or less, respectively. OR (95%CI) of being a current smoker for being a single was 2.99 (1.39-6.41) in middle age women.

CONCLUSIONS

: Low education was strongly associated with being a current smoker both in men (middle age and older) and women (younger and middle age), but being a single was associated with current smoking only in middle age women.