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10. Health
Reducing the percentage of the adult population who smoke is a national indicator within the Government's performance framework, with a target of 22% by 2010. Table 10.1 shows that a little under a quarter of adults now smoke (24.7%). Since 1999, smoking among adults has declined steadily. It is not possible at this stage to say whether the 0.3 percentage points decrease in the measurement of the indicator between 2006 and 2007 represents a statistically significant change or has occurred as a result of sampling variation 10.
Figure 10.1: Whether respondent smokes by year
1999-2007 data, Adults (2007 base: 10412)
From June 2007, this question was asked of three quarters of the sample. From January to May 2007, it was asked of all random adults.
Figure 10.2 shows the proportion of adults who smoke in Scotland by age and gender. Smoking is most common among 16 to 24 year old men and this is also the age group where there is the largest difference between men (33%) and women (27%). Smoking decreases slightly among males between the ages of 16-24 and 45-59 but stays almost the same among females. From the age of 60 smoking declines more quickly, with around one in five 60 - 74 year olds smoking (20% male, 21% female) and a little over one in ten of those aged 75 and over reporting they do so (13% male, 11% female).
Figure 10.2: Whether respondent smokes, by age and gender
2007 data, Adult males (base: 4476) and females (base: 5932)
From June 2007, this question was asked of three quarters of the sample. From January to May 2007, it was asked of all random adults.
As can been seen from Table 10.1, smoking is more prevalent in the most deprived areas; 40% compared with 13% in the least deprived areas.
Table 10.1: Whether respondent smokes by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile
Column percentages, 2007 data, Adults
| 1 (most deprived) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (least deprived) | Scotland |
|---|
Yes | 40 | 32 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 25 |
|---|
No | 60 | 68 | 77 | 83 | 87 | 75 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 1,944 | 2,087 | 2,336 | 2,125 | 1,912 | 10,404 |
|---|
From June 2007, this question was asked of three quarters of the sample. From January to May 2007, it was asked of all random adults.
Table 10.2 shows that, while most people describe their health as good or fairly good, those living in the most deprived areas do so less often (78% in the most deprived areas compared with 92% in the least deprived areas).
Table 10.2: Self perception of health by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile
Column percentages, 2007 data, Adults
| 1 (most deprived) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (least deprived) | Scotland |
|---|
Good | 44 | 49 | 54 | 58 | 63 | 54 |
|---|
Fairly good | 34 | 35 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 33 |
|---|
Not good | 22 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 14 |
|---|
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
|---|
Base | 2,298 | 2,425 | 2,704 | 2,464 | 2,198 | 12,089 |
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