Abstract |
In tackling smoking prevalence, beyond understanding why people smoke generally, there is also a need to understand why individuals take up a smoking behaviour from non-smoking one and why some other retain a smoking behaviour. This study investigates sociodemographic predictors influencing the initiation and continuation of smoking behaviours among South African adults. Consequently, this study utilizes data from the fifth wave of the National Income Dynamics Study Survey, descriptive statistics, and bivariate probit regression estimation techniques. The findings indicate that being a male, employed, healthy, and residing in urban areas increases the likelihood of initiating smoking behaviour for previously non-smoker by 0.78, 0.17, 0.8, 0.12 respectively. Likewise, the probability of persisting smoking behaviour is positively influenced by being employed (0.17), good health perception (0.83), and residing in urban area (0.089). On the other hand, being married, covered by medical insurance and level of education reduce the probability of initiating smoking behaviour as previously non-smoker and persistence smoking as previous smoker, respectively. This imply that that smoking behaviour uptake and persistency are significantly influenced by same variables. Based on these findings, the study suggests targeted interventions for adolescents and young adults, promotion of healthy marital relationships, job-specific interventions, educational campaigns, reassessment of health perceptions regarding smoking, and urban health initiatives. Specifically, given age-related patterns, smoking control efforts should focus on adolescents and young adults, tailored interventions for specific occupational sectors and public health campaigns promoting education and correcting misconceptions are recommended, with a focus on urban areas where smoking initiation and persistence are more prevalent. |