Socioeconomic status and tobacco expenditures among Moroccans: results of the "Maroc Tabagisme" survey

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship of sociodemographic and economic characteristics to tobacco expenses among Moroccan daily smokers.

Design: Cross-sectional ("Maroc Tabagisme" Survey) study.

Setting: Random sample of 9195 subjects representative of the Moroccan population.

Subjects: Household subjects 15 years and older.

Measures: Data were collected from selected households using a questionnaire about smoking, educational level, occupation, and household monthly income.

Analysis: Associations between sociodemographic and economic characteristics, smoking status, and tobacco expenses were assessed by multivariate analysis in a sample of 5959 respondents who provided details about their family income.

Results: Of 5959 participants, 28.5% of men and 2.8% of women were daily smokers. Compared with students, the odds of daily smoking were higher among blue-collar workers (odds ratio, 2.66). Tobacco expenses increased with higher family monthly income (p < .001). Moreover, smokers whose family monthly income was less than 1000 Moroccan dirham (MAD) spent 50.9% on tobacco, while those with family monthly income of 6000 MAD or higher spent 13.0 %on tobacco.

Conclusions: There was a strong association between tobacco expenses and sociodemographic and economic characteristics. Among households with low monthly income, up to half of the monthly income is spent on tobacco.