Who quits smoking: A study in 14 high-burden low- and mid-income countries regarding smokers' cessation behaviors

Smoking is the most preventable cause of premature deaths worldwide. Quitting smoking increases life expectancy and reduces health/economic burden, especially when one quits before 40. Understanding smokers' quitting behaviors is important to help them quit. Cessation-related behaviors among smokers was investigated in 14 high-burden low- and mid-income countries (including Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Mexico, Russia, and Vietnam) where the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) was conducted from 2008 to 2010.

GATS adopted standard protocol and questionnaires for systematically monitoring tobacco smoking, allowing direct comparison across GATS countries. GATS applied a multi-stage clustered sample design to obtain nationally representative data among adults. A total of 248,452 respondents completed the survey, representing 58% of the world population. Smokers were asked about their interest to quit and their cessation activities in the past 12 months.

The percentage of ever smokers who attempted to quit in the past 12 months ranged from 14.4% in China to 55.3% in Viet Nam. The percentage showing interests to quit in the next 12 months ranged from 10.5% in Indonesia to 39.1% in Bangladesh. There was gender difference regarding attempts to quit during the past 12 month, but the trend differed across countries. Both genders showed similar pattern in willingness to quit in the next 12 months.

Correlation analysis between interest to quit and quit attempt in the past 12 months indicated strong association; its strength is affected by the time frame of interest to quit.