Smoking among schoolteachers in Estonia 1980

In the autumn 1980 schoolteachers in the Estonian SSR received a questionnaire concerning smoking habits and attitudes to health risks related to smoking. Responses were received from 8 347 teachers (82% response rate). Of the 1 336 men studied, 40% were current smokers and 15% ex-smokers. Of the 7 011 women, 11% were current smokers and 4% ex-smokers. Among men in the age groups below 30, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and above 59 years the percentages of current smokers were 44, 44, 36, 38 and 45, respectively. For female schoolteachers the corresponding figures were 20, 15, 7, 6 and 2. There were no differences in the rates of smoking between Estonian (40% current smokers) and Russian (40%) men. Among Estonian females there were more current smokers (13%) than among Russian females (5%) studied. Of male schoolteachers who were current smokers, 92 smoked cigarettes only; among females this percentage was 99. Two percent of male and 15% of female cigarette smokers smoked a few cigarettes per month; the proportions of heavy smokers (20 or more cigarettes per day) were 10% and 1%, respectively. The belief that smoking is associated with coronary heart disease, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and lung emphysema was more widespread among ex-smokers and non-smokers as compared with current smokers.