Gender and Regional Differences of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Consumption

Jinsong Tang, Yanhui Liao

Introduction: Generally, the prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption in male Chinese is higher than that in female Chinese. However, little is known about the regional differences in prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption among Chinese.

Methods: This population-based multi-stage cluster sampling survey was conducted in in the Hunan province of China. Subjects from the general population (n=26,851) were interviewed to assess cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. The protocol was approved by the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Review Board (No. S101, 2011). Eligible subjects were 12 years of age or older and fully understand the context of the survey.

Results: Among 26,851 subjects (46.5% female and 31.2% from rural area), 26282 subjects (response rate: 97.9%) completed smoking related questions and 26168 subjects (response rate: 97.5%) completed alcohol drinking related questions. Overall, 25.3% (45.0% male and 3.0% female) were cigarette smokers (definition of cigarette smoker: smoked more than 100 cigarettes in the life time) and 20.0% (33.8 male and 4.2% female) were alcohol drinkers (definition of alcohol drinkers: ≥ 30g alcohol or 3 standard drinks per week). Mean (±SD) smoking years was 16.9 ± 12.05 in men and 13.5 ± 13.68 in women (P < 0.001). Mean (±SD) smoked cigarettes per day was 18.3 ± 14.80 in men and 18.7 ±15.46 in women (P = 0.658). Mean (±SD) alcohol drinking years was 16.0±12.60 in men and 10.3±11.09 in women (P < 0.001). Mean (±SD) alcohol drinking times per week was 4.5±4.39 in men and 3.2 ±3.27 in women (P < 0.001).

There were 27.0% and 24.8% cigarette smokers in rural area and urban area. There were 20.2% alcohol drinkers in both rural and urban areas. Mean (±SD) smoking years was 20.5 ± 13.42 in rural area and 14.9 ± 11.04 in urban area (P < 0.001). Mean (±SD) smoked cigarettes per day was 18.5 ± 14.29 in rural area and 18.3 ±15.17 in urban area (P = 0.697). Mean (±SD) alcohol drinking years was 19.4±14.05 in rural area and 13.7±11.40 in urban area (P < 0.001). Mean (±SD) alcohol drinking times per week was 5.6 ±5.45 in rural area and 3.8 ±3.46 in urban area (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: This study suggested an overwhelmingly higher rate of male cigarette smokers and alcohol drinkers than female in China, and more cigarette smokers in rural areas compared with urban areas. Compared with female, male started to smoke and drink in earlier age, and consumed more alcohol per week. Similarly, compared with urban area, people from rural area started to smoke and drink in earlier age, and consumed more alcohol per week. There were no gender and regional differences in terms of smoked cigarettes per day.

This abstract was submitted to the 2017 Society for Prevention Research Annual Meeting.