The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: In this work, we examined the gender-specific relationships of smoking prevalence to sunlight protection, regardless of selected variables. Smoking initiation prevention and smoking cessation strategies summarize in themselves social, cultural and psychological principles that can influence attitudes and behaviors of individuals; this work may provide helpful information while developing strategies for decreasing smoking prevalence, taking into consideration either gender and behavioral characteristics

Methods: Data were derived from a cross-sectional population-based random sample and collected by means of household interviews; all individuals aged 15 years and older were eligible to participate. A linear regression model was used to examine the association of smoking status with sunlight-protection prevalence adjusted for age, educational level, overweight status, region, and physical activity

Results: Information on smoking prevalence and sunlight exposure was available for 16990 individuals. The overall smoking prevalence and sunlight exposure prevalence rates were respectively: in men, 22.5% and 80.1%; in women, 16.2% and 68.3%. Among individuals exposed to sunlight, the proportions of active smokers were, in those always and not always protected by sunscreen, respectively, 15.1% and 20.4%. While comparing men and women, crude smoking prevalence between protected and not protected individuals were, respectively: in men, -9.1% (95% CI, -14.7; -4.6); in women, -1.4% (95% CI, -3.5; 1.7). Adjusted differences confirmed above cited absolute differences: in men, -7.1% (p value=0.022); in women, -2.5% (p value=0.178). Notwithstanding the possibility of cross-sectional biases and cohort effect, smokers are less likely to have sunscreen protection than non-smokers in men (but not in women).