Glob Health Action. 2024 Dec 31;17(1):2367415. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2367415. Epub 2024 Jun 20.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mauritius has implemented a range of stringent policies to control smoking and promote public health. Regular monitoring focuses on the prevalence of tobacco use, yet there is a gap in understanding its socio-economic patterns.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of tobacco smoking and to identify the social determinants associated with smoking among men in Mauritius in 2021.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional population-based study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness during 2021. In total, 3622 individuals participated (response rate of 84.1%), of which 1663 were men (45.9%). The study mainly focused on men given the low prevalence of smoking among women. Daily smoking was the outcome and a series of sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors were included as independent variables. Prevalence ratios (PR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated to fulfill the study objective.
RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking among men was 30.4%. People in the 25-34 age group (PR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.12-2.41), those separated, divorced or widowed (PR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.16-2.11), the ethnic groups Muslim-Mauritians (PR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.00-2.89) and Creoles (PR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.16-3.35), and those with secondary (PR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.00-1.67) and primary education (PR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.10-1.98) were statistically significantly associated with daily smoking.
CONCLUSIONS: Although a gradual decline in smoking prevalence was observed compared with the previous 2015 survey, the Ministry of Health and Wellness should persist in fortifying its anti-smoking measures and concentrate on crafting tailored interventions aimed at the vulnerable groups identified in this study.
PMID:38899339 | DOI:10.1080/16549716.2024.2367415
