Prevalence, Socioeconomic and Demographic Determinants of Smoking Among Adults in Salé- Morocco: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Smoking is one of the main preventable risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD). Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of smoking and identify the associated socioeconomic and demographic determinants in the adult (18+) population of Salé, Morocco. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2021 using a two-stage stratified probability sampling design. Based on a questionnaire, we collected information on tobacco use and some socioeconomic and demographic variables. Results: The prevalence of smoking among adults (both sexes) was 23.3% (23.0% in urban and 26.3% in rural). The proportion of smokers was largely higher among men (47.5%) compared to women (1.1%). Additionally, smoking was found to be significantly associated with age, household wealth index, educational level, marital status, occupation, average monthly household income, being the head of household, and having access to improved sanitation facilities (both sexes combined). Conclusion: Smoking is a real public health problem in Salé. This requires a comprehensive approach and commitment from all stakeholders to reduce smoking-related mortality and morbidity. Prevention, awareness and social inclusion remain the best methods to reduce the prevalence of smoking