Abstract

To determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking and to examine the risk factors affecting smoking amongst adults older than 40 years old in the city of Denizli, one thousand two hundred and three people who live in the center of Denizli are included in this cross-sectional study that evaluates prevalence of smoking. Data was gathered by face to face questionnaires. The mean age of 1203 participants (574 males [47.7%] and 629 females [52.3%]) was 52.6±10.5 years. The prevalence of smoking was 50.3%, 12.1%, and 30.3% amongst males, females and total population, respectively. There was a positive significant relation between education and smoking amongst women (p=0.0001), but this relationship was not significant amongst men. The mean pac-yrs were 32.9±23.1 and 13.1±13.8 for males and females, respectively. The prevalence of smoking was higher for the group with well economical status (p=0.026). The ratio of beginning smoking at male and female population before 20 years-old were, 66.7% and 37.5%, respectively (p=0.0001). Males were exposed to passive smoking at work, while females were exposed at home. The prevalence of cigarette smoking was significantly higher in persons whose parents were smokers during their childhood (p=0.001). The prevalence of smoking was similar to Turkey`s prevalence of smoking amongst males but lower amongst females and total population. The prevalence of smoking was higher at well educated women, but this relationship was not observed at men. The prevalence of smoking was high among the persons whose parents were smokers during their childhood.