Exposition to smoking and attitudes: comparison between inquiries applied to adult population in São Paulo City, 1987 and 2002

BACKGROUND: Periodic monitoring of tobacco smoking in the population is of public health interest. OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of smoking habits and attitudes toward tobacco smoking from a sample of residents of the City of Sao Paulo, in 1987 and 2002. METHODS: Two random sampling household surveys were carried out among residents of the City of Sao Paulo, in 1987 and 2002, respectively with 1,471 and 2,103 participants aged 15-59 years RESULTS: Age-adjusted prevalence of tobacco smoking dropped from 41.8% (in 1987) to 25.5% (in 2002) among males and, respectively, from 30.6% to 19.8% among females, and such reduction was observed in all education levels. There was a decrease in the mean number of cigarettes smoked a day among men (but an increase among women), There was a growth in the preference for low tar cigarettes, an increase in those who quit smoking in the last 10 years, a growth among those who seriously tried to quit smoking, and an increase in those who believe in that “smoking is dangerous for your health”. CONCLUSION: There was a favorable change in the situation of smoking habits in the City of Sao Paulo from 1987 to 2002.