Objective: To compare current tobacco smoking prevalence in the Brazilian population and the federal states in adults (aged ≥ 18 years), using the National Household Survey 2008 and National Health Survey, 2013.
Methods: Using data from two national surveys conducted in 2008 and 2013, the paper examines the current tobacco smoking prevalence in Brazil at the national level and at the federal state level. We calculated the percentage change for the period.
Results: Overall, results show -19% reduction in current tobacco smoking prevalence from 18.5% (2008) to 14.7% (2013). Results also show a significant percentage decline in smoking prevalence across geographic regions and demographic characteristics including gender, race, age and education levels. The decline occurred in all regions, urban and rural areas, and in most states. The reduction was -17.5% for men and -20.7% for women, having occurred in all age groups, with the greatest reduction in the group from 25 to 39 years of age; in all categories of race/color, a higher prevalence was found among the blacks and browns. It also declined in all the levels of schooling, with a higher reduction in lower education levels. In 2013, the prevalence for people with less education was 19.7% and 8.7% for those with college degrees.
Conclusion: There was an average reduction of about 19% in tobacco consumption in Brazil and the Brazilian states in both sexes, all ages, and race color. Tobacco consumption in the country is one of the lowest in the world and has declined significantly, which can be attributed to the control policies, regulation, and prevention.