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Predictors of smoking in a cross section of novice mine workers
1Epidemiology Research Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa. immok@css.pwv.gov.za
Objective:
To determine demographic predictors of smoking status amongst novice mine workers.
Setting:
Prospective mine workers undergoing fitness examination at the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases.
Design:
Cross sectional study.
Main Outcome Measures:
Current smoking status.
Results:
Smoking status is significantly linked to age, race group, nationality and previous employment status. Education is also a predictor of smoking status, but the association is weak. Smoking prevalence in subgroups of novice mine workers varies from less than 10% to nearly 75%.
Conclusion:
Assumptions of very high smoking rates amongst all mine workers are too simplistic. Smoking cannot be regarded globally as a major confounder of occupational exposure and occupational lung disease for all groups of mine workers.