Smoking in context – a multilevel approach to smoking among females in Helsinki
2008

Smoking Patterns Among Employed Women in Helsinki

Sample size: 5028 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Sakari Karvonen, Petteri Sipilä, Pekka Martikainen, Ossi Rahkonen, Mikko Laaksonen

Primary Institution: STAKES, National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health

Hypothesis

Does the area of residence influence smoking rates among employed women in Helsinki?

Conclusion

Smoking rates among employed women vary significantly by area, influenced by local unemployment and social cohesion.

Supporting Evidence

  • Smoking was significantly more prevalent in areas with high unemployment.
  • The largest difference in smoking rates was found between areas with varying proportions of single households.
  • Individual-level characteristics also influenced smoking rates, with lower education correlating with higher smoking prevalence.

Takeaway

Women who live in areas with more unemployment or single households are more likely to smoke. It's like how some kids might follow what their friends do, but in this case, it's about where they live.

Methodology

Cross-sectional questionnaire data were collected from municipal employees in Helsinki, focusing on women aged 40-60.

Potential Biases

Potential underrepresentation of younger respondents and manual workers in the sample.

Limitations

The study is limited to employed women in Helsinki, which may not represent the general population.

Participant Demographics

The study focused on female municipal employees aged 40-60, with a response rate of 69%.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.0622

Confidence Interval

95% confidence intervals reported for smoking prevalence.

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2458-8-134

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