Decreasing prevalence of cigarette smoking in the middle income country of Mauritius: questionnaire survey

doi:10.1136/bmj.321.7257.345

BMJ 2000;321:345-349 ( 5 August )

Papers

Decreasing prevalence of cigarette smoking in the middle income country of Mauritius: questionnaire survey

Helen S Cox, epidemiologist, ^a Joanne W Williams, epidemiologist, ^a Maximilian P de Courten, director of research, ^a Pierrot Chitson, director, ^b Jaakko Tuomilehto, professor, ^c Paul Z Zimmet, professor. ^a

^a International Diabetes Institute, Caulfield 3162, Australia, ^b Non-Communicable Disease Unit, Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Mauritius, ^c National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

Correspondence to: H S Cox helen.cox{at}dhs.vic.gov.au

Objectives: To describe changes in the prevalence of cigarettesmoking in the middle income country of Mauritius from 1987 to1998, and to relate these changes to legislative and health promotionefforts over the sameperiod.
Design: Questionnairesurvey.
Setting: Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean witha population of about 1.2 million (about 70% south Asian, 2% Chinese,and 28%Creole).
Participants: Data were obtained from 5072 participantsin 1987, 6573 in 1992, and 6281 in1998.
Main outcome measures: Prevalence of current smoking in 1987, 1992,and 1998, sales of cigarettes in Mauritius, and information onactivities for control oftobacco.
Results: Self reported cigarette smoking has been decreasingin Mauritius since 1987, with the largest decrease between 1987and 1992. From 1987 to 1998 smoking prevalence decreased by 23%in men and 61% in women. Smoking decreased across all age andethnic groups and across different levels of income and education.Sales of cigarettes also decreased in line with smokingprevalence.
Conclusions: The introduction of cigarette taxes, a limitedhealth promotion programme, and the absence of massive promotionalcampaigns by the sole tobacco company on Mauritius have led toa striking and continued decrease in smoking prevalence and cigaretteconsumption on theisland.