[Adult smoking trends in Mexico between 1988 and 2008]. / Tendencias del tabaquismo en adultos en México entre 1988 y 2008.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe the changes in several smoking indicators occurred in Mexico over the past two decades and to explore if the tobacco control policies implemented in Mexico, since 2004, show a favorable impact on tobacco consumption by 2008. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyze trends in comparable data on the prevalence of never and daily smokers, using the five National Addiction Surveys conducted between 1988 and 2008. The analysis is restricted to persons aged 18 through 65 years. Data are adjusted for age, sex and marginality index. RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2008 the percentage of never smokers has increased by 19.6% and the percentage of daily smokers has decreased by 24.8%. These changes were more important in men, but in women the average number of cigarettes consumed decreased by 21.1% over the compared period and there was also a 13.9% rise in the percentage of women attempting to quit. Daily smokers prevalence has declined more rapidly since 2005, coincidently with an increase in cigarette taxation. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past two decades there has been in Mexico an increase in the percentage of never smokers and a decline in the percentage of daily smokers. A positive impact is observed, few years after the implementation of more effective tobacco control policies in Mexico, notably higher taxation of tobacco products.