Inequalities in smoking prevalence: a missed opportunity for tobacco control in Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the highest tobacco consuming countries in South Asia and consumption is increasing. To implement equity orientated tobacco control policies, the most vulnerable groups must be identified. We aimed to identify these groups using the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2012-13.

Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore household and participant characteristics associated with smoking inside the home or tobacco smoking, respectively. Survey weights were used to give nationally representative findings.

Data for 12 931 households, 3132 men and 13 538 women were examined. About 58.3% of surveyed households were smoke-free, 39.1% were exposed to indoor tobacco smoke every day, 2.6% less frequently. Significantly more rural households were exposed to indoor tobacco smoke than urban households (45.2% versus 34.9%). Of men, 28.3% reported smoking compared with 1.3% of women. Smoking prevalence was higher in older age groups. Increasing wealth was associated with lower smoking prevalence and indoor smoking. For men, but not women, increasing education was associated with reduced smoking.

Inequalities in smoking behaviour impose harm to those who can least afford the financial and health costs. Future tobacco control policies in Pakistan must be sensitive to gender, geography and socio-economic status.