ABSTRACT
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. Since the price and expense of tobacco products are important factors relating to smoking and tobacco control, it is necessary to calculate the expense of daily smoking in order to enforce tobacco control programs. This study was done to assess the expense of daily smoking among smokers in Tehran. A cross-sectional study was done among a random population sample of 3026 smokers in different areas of Tehran. Data collection was done via WHO and IUATLD [International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease] questionnaires by questioning health-care workers. Finally data were analyzed by Chi-Square, Fischer's exact and logistic regression tests. Among 3026 participants, 2413 [80.9%] persons were male. The mean age of the population was 40 +/- 12.7 years. 49.2% of the population [1439 persons] had below diploma degrees and the maximum frequency distribution of occupation belonged to employees [36.7%]. The mean age of initiation of smoking was 21 +/- 8.19 yrs. and the mean number of cigarettes smoked daily was 16.81 +/- 10.61 cigarettes. 41.8% of population [1192 persons] had daily smoking expense of 2,510 to 4,500 Rials[*]. The mean was 4,680 +/- 388.78 Rials. In evaluation of daily smoking expense according to gender, over 6,500 Rials daily expenditure was more frequent among men [20.1%] in comparison with women [13.5%] [P=0.000]. Persons with daily income of less than 50,000 Rials, spent 9.3% of it for smoking. Because of the low price of cigarette in Iran, there is huge expenditure on smoking. Therefore, it is recommended to pay special attention to economical strategies in tobacco control programs and to coordinate with WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FCTC]