Socioeconomic inequalities in current daily smoking in five Turkish regions

To assess whether socioeconomic inequalities in smoking in five regions across in Turkey have the same pattern as observed in southern Europe. Cross-sectional data of the World Health Survey 2002 from Turkey were analyzed (5,951 women and 4,456 men) to evaluate the association of smoking with wealth and education. Age-standardized prevalence rates and odds ratios were calculated separately by sex, region and age groups. Smoking prevalence was 16.7 % for women and 51.4 % for men. Smoking risk was increased in higher wealth and education groups among women in all regions and for both younger and older generations. In the East, Middle and Black Sea regions this female pattern was most pronounced. For men, smoking was less prevalent in the two highest wealth groups. Unlike among women, socioeconomic differences in smoking were approximately equally large in all regions. Patterns of inequalities in smoking across the five regions strongly resemble those observed in southern Europe. This fits the patterns predicted by the smoking epidemic model. Particular attention should be given to highly educated women, who may perceive smoking as a symbol of modernity, emancipation and independence.