TRENDS AND PATTERNS IN SMOKING BEHAVIOURS, POLAND 1974-1995

SS 16.00-17.30 Special sessions

TRENDS AND PATTERNS IN SMOKING BEHAVIOURS, POLAND 1974-1995

AUTHORS: K Przewozniak, W Zatonski
INSTITUTION: Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology, Poland

Nation-wide surveys are conducted in Poland since 1974, to determine the patterns, social structure, and dynamics of tobacco smoking. These surveys are carried out on representative samples of the adult population. Since 1982, the surveys are carried out by the Cancer Centre in Warsaw in co-operation with centres of study of public opinion.

The results of the studies lead to the following conclusions: (1) tobacco smoking is still common in Poland; 50% of men and 25% of women smoked in 1995, (2) middle-aged men are most at risk of harmful effects of tobacco smoking; (3) middle-aged women living in big cities or women with higher education smoke tobacco almost as much as men; (4) 30% of pregnant women smoke tobacco; (5) expenditure for tobacco products is highest in the poorest families; (6) Poles smoke long and lots, which contributes to an increase in premature mortality in recent years; (7) about 50% of regular smokers are addicted to nicotine;(8) in the last 20 years, many positive changes were also noted in adult Poles' attitudes to smoking; among these: fall in the percentage of daily male smokers, and an increase in men who have never smoked; (9) if these changes continue, they can lead to a drop of mortality from tobacco-related diseases now observed in the youngest age groups.

Smoke Free Europe Conference Abstracts - 19 SEP 1996

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