Exposition to smoking and attitudes: comparison between inquiries applied to adult population in São Paulo City, 1987 and 2002.

BACKGROUND Periodic monitoring of tobacco smoking in the population is of public health interest. OBJECTIVES To compare the prevalence of smoking habits and attitudes toward tobacco smoking from a sample of residents of the City of Sao Paulo, in 1987 and 2002. METHODS Two random sampling household surveys were carried out among residents of the City of Sao Paulo, in 1987 and 2002, respectively with 1,471 and 2,103 participants aged 15-59 years RESULTS Age-adjusted prevalence of tobacco smoking dropped from 41.8% (in 1987) to 25.5% (in 2002) among males and, respectively, from 30.6% to 19.8% among females, and such reduction was observed in all education levels. There was a decrease in the mean number of cigarettes smoked a day among men (but an increase among women), There was a growth in the preference for low tar cigarettes, an increase in those who quit smoking in the last 10 years, a growth among those who seriously tried to quit smoking, and an increase in those who believe in that "smoking is dangerous for your health". CONCLUSION There was a favorable change in the situation of smoking habits in the City of Sao Paulo from 1987 to 2002.