The impact of smoking and quitting on household expenditure patterns and medical care costs in China.
Tob Control
; 18(2): 150-5, 2009 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19158112
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Smoking remains very common in Chinese men, and the economic burden caused by cigarette consumption on smokers and their families may be substantial. Using a large nationally representative household survey, the third National Health Services Survey (NHSS, 2003), we estimated the economic impact of smoking on households.METHODS:
Smoking status of all household members (over 15 years) was collected by interview for the NHSS, and households classified into one of seven categories based on their smoking status. Information on household income and expenditure, and use of health services was also obtained. We assessed both the "direct" costs (reducing funds available for spending on other commodities such as food, education, medical care, etc, using a fractional logit model), and "indirect costs" (increasing medical expenditures, using a log-linear model).RESULTS:
Every five packets of cigarettes consumed per capita per month reduces household spending on other commodities, most notably on education (by about 17 yuan per capita per annum) and medical care (11 yuan). The effects are greatest among low-income rural households. Households with quitters spend substantially more on medical care than never-smoking households (64 yuan for households with two or more quitters).CONCLUSIONS:
If a household member smokes, there is less money available for commodities such as education and medical care. Medical care expenditure is substantially higher among households with quitters, as ill-health is the main reason for quitting smoking in China. Smoking impoverishes a substantial number of poorer rural households.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Fumar
/
Cese del Hábito de Fumar
/
Gastos en Salud
Tipo de estudio:
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Prognostic_studies
Aspecto:
Equity_inequality
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Tob Control
Asunto de la revista:
TRANSTORNOS RELACIONADOS COM SUBSTANCIAS
Año:
2009
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido