Knowledge and Perceptions of Smoking According to Income Level in Morocco

Abstract

Purpose.

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

Design.

Cross-sectional study.

Setting.

Random sample of 9195 subjects representative of the Moroccan population.

Subjects.

Subjects aged > 15 years from households.

Measures.

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

Analysis.

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.

Results.

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.

Conclusions.

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.