Knowledge and perceptions of smoking according to income level in Morocco

To determine the association between income level and variations in knowledge and perceptions about tobacco smoking in Morocco.

Cross-sectional study.

Random sample of 9195 subjects representative of the Moroccan population.

Subjects aged >15 years from households.

Data were collected from selected households using a standardized questionnaire about smoking, educational level, household monthly income, and knowledge of health effects of smoking.

Stepwise logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for each variable were calculated as an estimate of the likelihood of having knowledge that smoking causes selected diseases.

Among 9195 subjects, 27.8% reported low income (<2000 Moroccan dirhams [MAD]), and 9.9% reported the highest income level (≥6000 MAD). Higher income was significantly associated with higher knowledge of health effects of smoking (p < .0001); 55% of low-income respondents compared to 71.5% of respondents with higher income knew about the relationship between cigarette smoking and cancer.

Lower income level was associated with lower awareness of the harms of smoking. There is a need to improve knowledge of the dangers of smoking among the disadvantaged segments of the population.