We assessed the prevalence and determinants/predictors of cigarette smoking among adults aged 18 years and over in high mountain rural areas of North Pakistan. We selected 4203 adults (men 33.5%; female 66.5%) using stratified random sampling from 16 villages in north Pakistan. A structured questionnaire was administrated to respondents by trained interviewers. Data on cigarette smoking (defined as lifetime use of at least 100 cigarettes) and other variables such as age, sex, use of snuff, wine, BMI, blood pressure, occupation, socioeconomic status, family history of stroke and hypertension were obtained. A total of 614 men (44%) and 154 women (6%) reported smoking cigarettes. Use of smokeless tobacco (snuff) was prevalent among men (39%) and women (14%). Men were more likely (OR=6.5, 95%CI=4.75-8.79) to be smokers. Smokers were more likely to use snuff (OR=1.39, 95%CI=1.12-1.73), wine (OR=3.47, 95% CI=2.81-4.29) and were more likely to work as farmer (OR=1.55, 95%CI=1.05-2.29) or shopkeepers (OR=2.63, 95%CI=1.67-4.14). Individuals with college level education and with desirable BMI were less likely to smoke (OR=0.55, 95%CI=0.35-0.87; OR=0.74, 95%CI=0.57-0.96). Our results shows that smoking is a major public health problem in this high mountain remote area of Pakistan.
Learning Objectives: To estimate current burden and predictors of cigarette use among adult population living in high mountain rural villages of North Pakistan
Keywords: Pakistan, Smoking
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.