Tobacco smoking and level of education in Brazil, 2006.

OBJECTIVE To analyze smoking prevalence and cumulative cigarette consumption and factors associated. METHODS Data from 54,369 respondents aged > or = 18 years were analyzed. Data was collected through interviews using the Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL--Telephone-Based Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases) conducted in Brazilian state capitals and Federal District in 2006. Smoking prevalence rates were estimated stratified by level of education and gender in all cities studied and prevalence ratios, crude and adjusted for number of adults living in the same household and number of rooms per household, were also calculated. Lifetime cigarette consumption (pack-years) was analyzed by level of education and gender in all macroregions studied. RESULTS In Brazil, overall smoking prevalence was significantly higher among men and women with lower education (eight years of schooling = 24.2%; nine years and more = 15.5%). This difference tended to decrease with age and an inverse proportion was seen among the elderly. Reduced risk of smoking was found associated to higher education regardless of the number of adults living in the same household and the number of rooms per household. The prevalence of heavy smokers was higher among those with lower education, especially among women in the Northern region, except for the Southern region, where it was higher among men with higher education. CONCLUSIONS The study results confirmed higher smoking prevalence among those with lower education, especially among younger males. Further studies are needed to better understand the dynamics of tobacco epidemic for developing specific prevention actions targeting different age and social groups.