[Prevalence survey of smoking pattern among peasants in China]

To study smoking patterns among farmers so as to provide scientific basis for developing effective tobacco control measures via policy making. The Survey was conducted by randomly selecting, in multi-stage, about 50 thousand farmers aged over 15 years old as the participants of the study according to economic status and geographical distribution in Guangdong, Henan, Jiangsu, Qinghai and Heilongjiang provinces. Results The overall prevalence of smoking was 33.45% (prevalence in men was 56.94% and in women was 6.40%) showing a decrease of 5%, 10% and -2.5% as compared with those of in 1996 survey. The average number of cigarettes consumed per day by men and women was 16 and 13 respectively as compared with 15 and 11 in 1996.

Smoking prevalence among farmers in China was still remarkably high. The measures for tobacco control in rural areas should be emphasized. For reducing this prevalence, health promotion strategy might be prioritized.