Smoking Rate Declines In Beijing's Urban Population

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 21 Jun 2010 - 2:00 PDT

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The smoking rate of Beijing urban residents has decreased slightly according to a survey of carried out in 2009 and presented at the World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) Scientific Sessions in Beijing, China.

Results from a survey carried out during July - August 2009 revealed that the smoking rate of urban and rural Beijing residents was 24.98 percent. Smoking rates in the rural population were higher (29.73 per cent) compared to those among the urban population (15.41 per cent). Moreover, smoking rates were higher among men (57.18 per cent) than women (7.43 per cent) and tended to increase with age in men and decrease with age in women. In general, the smoking rate was higher in those with a lower educational level than those with a higher educational level.

Disease prevention education was cited as the reason to quit in 52.65 per cent of respondents, followed by morbidity (22.57 per cent) and family objection (18.14 per cent).

"As compared with the results of previous surveys, the smoking rate decreased slightly in the Beijing urban residents," said Dr. Hu Dayi, Beijing University People's Hospital, Beijing, China. "There is still a great need to reduce the number of smokers not only in Beijing, but across China, and as disease prevention education appears to be the most effective way to stop smoking, this education should be strenuously intensified."

A questionnaire survey of stratified cluster sampling was conducted among 7,421 permanent residents in four Beijing districts. Respondents were aged between 20 and 89 years of age.

Source:
World Heart Federation

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