Gender differences in smoking experience and cessation: do wealth and education matter equally for women and men in Serbia?

Abstract

Although nowadays smoking is less popular, one-third of adults in Serbia still smoke regularly. The aim of this study was to analyze associations of smoking experience and quitting with gender and socio-economic status. Cross-sectional, population-based nationally representative household survey (Health Survey, 2006). Age- and multivariate-adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to analyze predictors of smoking experience and cessation. Of 12 365 interviewed, 51.1% used to smoke: current smokers accounted for 36.8% and former smokers for 14.3%. Higher educated women were more prone to smoking [secondary school: odds ratio (OR), 1.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.52-2.01; university degree: OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.26-1.86], whereas for men the opposite was observed (university degree: OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60-0.86). Education also was 'pro-quitting' factor (university degree: OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.07-1.99 for women; university degree: OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.23-1.80 for men). To quit smoking, wealth status was gradually more important for women, while just the richest men were more likely to quit smoking (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09-1.93). The poorest women in Serbia and the least educated men are those least likely to quit smoking, which indicates that ability to quit is predicted by socio-economic status.