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Socioeconomic Inequality in Smoking in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries: Results from the World Health Survey

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  • Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor
  • Lucy Anne Parker
  • Edouard Tursan d'Espaignet
  • Somnath Chatterji

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the magnitude and pattern of socioeconomic inequality in current smoking in low and middle income countries. Methods: We used data from the World Health Survey [WHS] in 48 low-income and middle-income countries to estimate the crude prevalence of current smoking according to household wealth quintile. A Poisson regression model with a robust variance was used to generate the Relative Index of Inequality [RII] according to wealth within each of the countries studied. Results: In males, smoking was disproportionately prevalent in the poor in the majority of countries. In numerous countries the poorest men were over 2.5 times more likely to smoke than the richest men. Socioeconomic inequality in women was more varied showing patterns of both pro-rich and pro-poor inequality. In 20 countries pro-rich relative socioeconomic inequality was statistically significant: the poorest women had a higher prevalence of smoking compared to the richest women. Conversely, in 9 countries women in the richest population groups had a statistically significant greater risk of smoking compared to the poorest groups. Conclusion: Both the pattern and magnitude of relative inequality may vary greatly between countries. Prevention measures should address the specific pattern of smoking inequality observed within a population.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor & Lucy Anne Parker & Edouard Tursan d'Espaignet & Somnath Chatterji, 2012. "Socioeconomic Inequality in Smoking in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries: Results from the World Health Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(8), pages 1-8, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0042843
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042843
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lynch, J. W. & Kaplan, G. A. & Salonen, J. T., 1997. "Why do poor people behave poorly? Variation in adult health behaviours and psychosocial characteristics by stages of the socioeconomic lifecourse," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 44(6), pages 809-819, March.
    2. repec:dau:papers:123456789/10510 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Semba, R.D. & De Pee, S. & Sun, K. & Best, C.M. & Sari, M. & Bloem, M.W., 2008. "Paternal smoking and increased risk of infant and under-5 child mortality in Indonesia," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(10), pages 1824-1826.
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    1. Costa-Font, Joan & Cowell, Frank, 2024. "Specific egalitarianism? Inequality aversion across domains," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 124423, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Joan Costa-Font & Frank Cowell & Joan Costa-i-Font, 2024. "Specific Egalitarianism? Inequality Aversion across Domains," CESifo Working Paper Series 11261, CESifo.
    3. Cinzia Novi & Rowena Jacobs & Matteo Migheli, 2020. "Smoking inequality across genders and socio-economic positions. Evidence from Italian data," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 177-203, October.
    4. Raymond Orr & Darren Calhoun & Carolyn Noonan & Ron Whitener & Jeff Henderson & Jack Goldberg & Patrica Nez Henderson, 2013. "A History of Ashes: An 80 Year Comparative Portrait of Smoking Initiation in American Indians and Non-Hispanic Whites—the Strong Heart Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Qing Wang & Jay J Shen & Michelle Sotero & Casey A Li & Zhiyuan Hou, 2018. "Income, occupation and education: Are they related to smoking behaviors in China?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Lucio Esposito & Shatakshee Dhongde & Christopher Millett, 2021. "Smoking habits in Mexico: Upward and downward comparisons of economic status," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 1558-1575, August.
    7. Aristides Dos Santos, Anderson Moreira & Triaca, Lívia Madeira & Leivas, Pedro Henrique Soares, 2023. "How is smoking distributed in relation to socioeconomic status? Evidence from Brazil in the years 2013 and 2019," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).

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