Sociodemographic inequalities in cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and simultaneous use of cigarettes and alcohol among Polish farmers: findings from a questionnaire survey conducted among patients of a voivodeship farmers’ rehabilitation centre in Poland

Introduction:
Tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking are major causes of premature mortality, especially in men. Both health behaviours are strongly determined by sociodemographic factors. Aim of the study was to evaluate the role of sociodemographic determinants of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and simultaneous use of these psychoactive substances among Polish farmers.

Material and methods:
A questionnaire survey on health conditions, disease treatment and health behaviours was conducted among 612 farmers who participated in 21-day rehabilitation courses organised between August 2021 and September 2022 by a farmers’ rehabilitation centre in Poland. The study presents the results of cross-sectional (by gender, age and education) statistical univariate (based on Pearson’s and Cramer’s c² tests) analysis of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and simultaneous use of cigarettes and alcohol.

Results:
No statistically significant association was found between current cigarette smoking and farmer’s gender and education. Smoking was significantly associated with farmer’s age (p = 0.003). In women, smoking rates decreased with age. All analysed sociodemographic variables were strong predictors of current alcohol drinking. Men drank alcohol two times more often than women. The highest prevalence of male alcohol drinking was among the oldest and less educated farmers. The percentage of male alcohol drinkers increased with education, while in women it decreased with age. Simultaneous use of cigarettes and alcohol was significantly associated with all analysed sociodemographic factors. Almost one in ten farmers was a dual user of cigarettes and alcohol, while one in two was a dual abstainer. Dual use was more frequent among male, older and less educated farmers, whereas dual abstinence was more frequent among female, middle-aged and highly educated farmers.

Conclusions:
Cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and dual use of both psychoactive substances are strongly determined by farmer’s sociodemographic status. Tobacco and alcohol preventive and cessation programmes targeting farmers should be tailored to these sociodemographic inequalities.