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Published in: International Journal of Public Health 2/2014

01-04-2014 | Original Article

The longitudinal age and birth cohort trends of smoking in Sweden: a 24-year follow-up study

Authors: P. Midlöv, S. Calling, J. Sundquist, K. Sundquist, S. E. Johansson

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 2/2014

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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study is to analyse longitudinally, the annual effects of age group and birth cohort on smoking in the Swedish population during a 24-year period and to analyse the smoking trends for different levels of education.

Methods

A random sample of adult, non-institutionalized persons aged 16–71 years was interviewed every 8 years by professional interviewers. In addition to three time-related variables—year of interview, age at the time of the interview, and year of birth—we included the following explanatory variables in the analyses: sex, educational level, and urbanization.

Results

We found significant decreases in smoking prevalence in all studied subgroups. The adjusted odds ratios for age were 0.89 (95 % CI 0.88–0.90) and 0.92 (95 % CI 0.91–0.93) for men and women, respectively. The decreases in smoking over time were significant in all levels of education, except for in women with low educational level.

Conclusions

In Sweden, the prevalence of smoking has decreased in most age groups and cohorts, and in persons in most levels of education, albeit less so in women with low educational level.
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Metadata
Title
The longitudinal age and birth cohort trends of smoking in Sweden: a 24-year follow-up study
Authors
P. Midlöv
S. Calling
J. Sundquist
K. Sundquist
S. E. Johansson
Publication date
01-04-2014
Publisher
Springer Basel
Published in
International Journal of Public Health / Issue 2/2014
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-013-0535-5

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