Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors associated with
attempting to quit smoking and successfully doing so, among
South Africans.
METHODS: Data from the 1998 South African Demographic
and Health Survey (the largest nationally representative
survey dataset available to date) were used. We compared the
characteristics of those who attempted to quit, with those of
the entire population of smokers, and compared successful
quitters with those who only attempted to quit. The data
analysis included logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS: Of those who ever smoked and who smoked ≥100
cigarettes, 68.1% (N=2 223) attempted to quit smoking, but
only 14.1% succeeded of those who ever attempted to quit.
Those who attempted to quit were significantly more likely
to be female, white, ≥55 years old, have tertiary education,
believe smoking is harmful, have been dependent on alcohol
in the past, live in smoke-free homes, or smoke >20 cigarettes
per day. Similar factors were associated with successful
quitting, except that race was not a determinant of success,
and those with 1 - 7 years’ schooling (compared with no
education or higher education) were most likely to succeed,
while those currently dependent on alcohol were least likely
to succeed.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinical interventions, programmes targeting
alcohol-dependent smokers, and policies that will boost the
number of smoke-free homes and increase knowledge about
the adverse health effects of smoking, may increase the rate of
smoking cessation in South Africa.
