Abstract
Objectives
: To determine the numbers of smokers, smoking prevalence and trends, and to examine their socio-demographic associations in Alberta using data from three Canadian national health surveys undertaken between 2000 and 2005.
Methods
: The three surveys collected self-reported health data from Canadians aged 12 years and older. The weighted number of smokers and the smoking prevalence by health region and by urban/rural status were determined. The socio-demographic associations of smoking in Alberta were examined using logistic regression analysis.
Results
: The numbers of smokers and the smoking prevalence were both higher among men than women, in middle-aged groups (20–39 and 40–59 years) than in younger (12–19 years) and older (=60 years) groups, and among Canadian-born people than immigrants to Canada. The smoking prevalence tended to 1) increase with the increasing rurality of residence, 2) decrease over the timeframe examined, 3) be inversely proportional to educational level and 4) be inversely proportional to household income. The number of smokers was largest in urban areas and among those who reported the highest education and household income.
Discussion
: The new tobacco legislation being introduced in Alberta in 2009 may decrease the smoking prevalence in the province, but additional interventions in the regions with the largest numbers of smokers may help further reduce the smoking population and overall smoking prevalence in Alberta.
Key words: Smoking; prevalence; trend; socio-demographic factors; public health
Résumé
Objectifs
: Déterminer le nombre de fumeurs et la prévalence et les tendances du tabagisme et examiner leurs associations sociodémographiques en Alberta à l’aide des données de trois enquêtes nationales sur la santé menées au Canada entre 2000 et 2005.
Méthode
: Les trois enquêtes ont recueilli des données sur la santé déclarées par des Canadiens de 12 ans et plus. Nous avons calculé le nombre pondéré de fumeurs et la prévalence du tabagisme selon la région sanitaire et le statut urbain ou rural. Les associations sociodémographiques du tabagisme en Alberta ont été examinées au moyen d’une analyse de régression logistique.
Résultats
: Le nombre de fumeurs et la prévalence du tabagisme étaient tous les deux plus élevés chez les hommes que chez les femmes; dans les groupes d’âge moyen (20 à 39 ans et 40 à 59 ans) que dans les groupes plus jeunes (12 à 19 ans) ou plus vieux (=60 ans); et chez les personnes nées au Canada que chez les immigrants au Canada. La prévalence du tabagisme avait tendance: 1) à augmenter plus le lieu de résidence était rural; 2) à diminuer au cours de la période à l’étude; 3) à être inversement proportionnelle au niveau d’instruction; et 4) à être inversement proportionnelle au revenu du ménage. Les fumeurs étaient les plus nombreux dans les zones urbaines et parmi les répondants ayant déclaré le niveau d’instruction et le revenu du ménage les plus élevés.
Discussion
: Le projet de loi antitabac déposé en Alberta en 2009 pourrait réduire la prévalence du tabagisme dans la province, mais des interventions supplémentaires dans les zones qui comptent le plus grand nombre de fumeurs pourraient contribuer à réduire encore davantage la population des fumeurs et la prévalence globale du tabagisme en Alberta.
Mots clés: tabagisme, prévalence, tendances, facteurs sociodémographiques, santé publique
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