Characteristics of smokers atitudes towards smoking

 Acesse:  A comparison between Brazilian and European smokers.pdf 

Characteristics of smokers atitudes towards smoking
A comparison between Brazilian and European smokers

The Research Program and Assistance in Drug Addiction in the Institute of Psychiatry of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (PROJAD-IPUB/UFRJ)
Tobacco consumption is a major cause of death and disease, and quitting smoking is the most important thing smokers can do in order to benefit their health, improve the quality of life and increase life expectancy. In 1989, 32.5% of the Brazilian population smoked, however, no data is available about how many of them are willing to stop and which factors might influence the majority to make such a decision.
Objective: Compare habits, attitudes and believes of smokers in four major cities in Brazil with what was described for 17 European countries.
Methods: Eight hundred smokers were interviewed in four major cities in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Porto Alegre and Recife). The methodology employed was based on quota sampling. Quotas were separated according to social class, gender, occupation and age.
Results: Brazil, when compared to European countries, seems to have one of the highest degrees of awareness on the antitobacco fight.
Conclusion: For the first time, data on habits, attitudes and believes of smokers were collected in Brazil and compared with information from other countries. Orientation for new public health policies is provided, what may encourage a larger amount of population to quit smoking and consequently decrease the mortality and morbidity in this country.