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Socioeconomic Determinants of Smoking in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Ameerah M.N. Qattan

    (Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80200, Saudi Arabia
    Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80200, Saudi Arabia)

  • Micheal Kofi Boachie

    (Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Private Mail Bag 31, Ho, Ghana
    SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Mustapha Immurana

    (Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Private Mail Bag 31, Ho, Ghana)

  • Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi

    (Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80200, Saudi Arabia
    Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80200, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Tobacco consumption, or smoking, is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In order to reduce the consumption of tobacco products, it is necessary to understand the factors that drive it. However, little is known about the socioeconomic determinants of tobacco smoking in the KSA. This study, therefore, investigates the socioeconomic factors that influence tobacco smoking in the KSA. Using a national health survey, the study employs logistic and negative binomial regressions to examine the socioeconomic factors associated with smoking. Moreover, the inequality concentration indices (CIs) are used to assess inequalities in smoking. The results reveal that the smoking prevalence is 14.09% of the 8813 respondents considered in this study. The prevalence of smoking is higher among men (25.34%) than among women (1.91%). On the determinants of smoking, the logistic regression results show that higher income is associated with lower likelihood of smoking. Other factors significantly associated with current smoking status are marital status, gender, age, and region of residence. Similarly, gender, age and region of residence are significantly associated with smoking intensity. As regards the inequality analysis, at the national level, the results show that smoking is concentrated among those with higher socioeconomic status (income: CI = 0.071, p < 0.01; education: CI = 0.095, p < 0.01), but with significant regional variations. By gender disaggregation, the results also show that the income-based CIs are positive for both males and females, but statistically insignificant. Education-based CI is positive for males and significant (CI = 0.057, p < 0.05), while it is negative and insignificant for females during the study period. The findings call for targeted tobacco control measures focusing on those with higher socioeconomic status, as well as factors such as age, gender, marital status and region of residence.

Suggested Citation

  • Ameerah M.N. Qattan & Micheal Kofi Boachie & Mustapha Immurana & Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi, 2021. "Socioeconomic Determinants of Smoking in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5665-:d:562136
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wagstaff, Adam & Paci, Pierella & van Doorslaer, Eddy, 1991. "On the measurement of inequalities in health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 545-557, January.
    2. Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi & Rubayyat Hashmi & Sarh Almubark & Ameerah M. N. Qattan & Mohammad Habibullah Pulok, 2020. "Socioeconomic Inequalities in Uptake of Breast Cancer Screening among Saudi Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a National Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-13, March.
    3. Pampel, Fred, 2008. "Tobacco use in sub-Sahara Africa: Estimates from the demographic health surveys," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(8), pages 1772-1783, April.
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