Smoking in Morocco

Gender differences in patterns of tobacco use

A survey of over 9,000 people aged between 15 and 90 from seven regions of Morocco has found large differences in smoking rates and patterns between men and women. An earlier study of cardiovascular risk factors in 2000 found that 31.5% of men and 0.6% of women were smokers. The new study found smoking rates of 31.5% for males, but an increased level, 3.1%, among women.

In addition, the survey covered the respondents’ personal, social and educational status, allowing the association between current tobacco use and socio-demographic variables to be estimated: among men, smoking was associated with having a lower educational level, but among women it was associated with higher levels of education and social class.

Source: International Journal of Public Health, 23 October 2009.

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