Tobacco smoking prevalence and associated factors among the elderly in the rural area of Rio Grande/RS, Brazil.

Introduction: Although tobacco smoking prevalence in the adult Brazilian population is monitored through population-based surveys, the majority of findings come from studies undertaken in urban areas. Therefore, very little is known about tobacco smoking prevalence and associated factors among elderly people living in rural Brazilian areas. As such, this study aimed to assess tobacco smoking prevalence and associated factors among elderly people in the rural area of the municipality of Rio Grande, state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional population-based study conducted with individuals aged 60 years or more residing in the rural area of the municipality of Rio Grande, RS. Tobacco smoking prevalence was calculated according to each category of the independent variables of interest using Fisher's exact test. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression following a hierarchical analysis model was used to analyze associated factors.

Results: A total of 13.2% of the elderly people were smokers and 33.8% were former smokers. A total of 66.9% of smokers had smoked for 41 years or more and 14.4% smoked 21 or more cigarettes a day. Following the adjusted analysis, factors associated with smoking were being male (prevalence ratio (PR)=2.23, 95%CI=1.56-3.17), being in the 60-69 year age range (PR=2.65, 95%CI=1.47-4.80), having black/brown skin color (PR=1.99, 95%CI=1.34-2.93) and being single/separated (PR=1.61, 95%CI=1.15-2.25). Practicing the evangelical Christian religion was a protection factor.

Conclusion: Although the prevalence of tobacco smoking found in this study is similar to that in other national studies with elderly people, tobacco use is still considerable and is among the main causes of avoidable diseases. This study is therefore important because it is the first conducted with elderly people living in the rural area of the municipality. Its findings can become a tool for planning actions or public policies aimed at promoting behavioral changes that reduce risk factors associated with tobacco smoking among the elderly in rural areas.