OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence of cigarette smoking among employed floating population in China and to provide evidence for developing prevention and control measures targeted at cigarette smoking among them.

METHODSOn the basis of the Disease Surveillance Points (DSPs)System and employed distribution among floating population, the China Non- communicable and Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance in 2012 sampled from 170 DSPs, multi-stage stratified equal-sized cluster sampling method was used and stratified by six occupational groups. Cigarette smoking related information among the employed floating population was collected by face-to-face interviews. The analytical method accounted for the complex sampling design.

RESULTSThere were 48 699 subjects, aged 18-59 years old, eligible and included in this analysis among the surveyed employed floating population. Among them, the prevalence of current smoking was 32.5% (95%CI: 32.0%-33.0%). A significantly higher percentage of men 55.3% (95%CI:54.6%-56.0%)relative to women 1.9% (95% CI:1.7%-2.1%)reported current smoking(χ(2) = 2.6, P = 0.103 7). Among men, differences in current smoking rates remained similar across age groups (χ(2) = 2.6, P = 0.103 7), but the current smoking rate tended to be lower with higher education(χ(2) = 140.7, P < 0.000 1). The current smoking rate in men was the highest(58.6% , 95% CI:57.3%-60.0%)in the floating population working in the construction industry. The prevalent of daily cigarette smoking was 27.9% (95% CI: 27.4%-28.4%), with a significantly higher proportion among men 47.8% (95% CI:47.1%-48.5%) than among women 1.3% (95%CI:1.1%-1.4%). Among daily smokers, the mean number of cigarettes smoked was 15.6(95%CI:15.5-15.8)per day(men:15.7 per day; women: 10.3 per day). The number was higher in men 15.7(95% CI:15.6-15.9)than in women 10.3(95% CI:9.3-11.3). Among daily smoking men, the daily consumed cigarettes number increased with the age increased (t = 34.89, P < 0.000 1), whereas the daily consumed cigarettes number decreased with the increase of education level (t = -14.63, P < 0.000 1). The daily consumed cigarettes number in men was the highest (18.2, 95%CI:17.9-18.6)in the floating population working in the construction industry. There were 47.1% of the daily smokers who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day in the floating population aged 18-59, with a higher percentage among men (47.6%) than women (21.9%). The percentage in men increased with age and education level and the heavy smoking rate was the highest in the construction industry (60.4%). Among current smokers, the percentage of attempting to quit was 10.3% (95%CI: 9.7%-10.8%). A higher proportion of women 14.8% (95% CI:11.1%-18.5%), compared to men 10.1% (95% CI:9.6%-10.7%), reported attempting to quit. The rate of attempting to quit among current smokers increased with age. No significant difference in prevalence of attempting to quit by education level or occupation was seen. The percent of successfully quitting smoking was 6.1% (95%CI:5.7%-6.5%). The proportion was higher in women 7.2% (95%CI:4.6%-9.8%)than in men 6.1% (95%CI:5.7%-6.5%). The percentage of quitting smoking successfully increased with age (χ(2) = 269.0, P < 0.000 1). The percent of people who exposed to secondhand smoking was 68.7% (95%CI: 68.1%-69.3%). The percent was higher among men 76.4% (95%CI:75.5%-77.3%) than in women 64.0% (95%CI:63.2%-64.9%).

CONCLUSIONSmoking was more common among men in the employed floating population aged 18-59 years old, especially in the construction industry. Low percent was seen among those who attempting to quit, and the ones who successfully quit were very few.