Introduction: Tobacco use continues to be the leading global cause of preventable death. Most of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, and this trend is expected to widen further over the next several decades. The overall objective of the study is to describe and analyse the smoking behaviours of adults in Kosova.
Methods: According to the STEPs methodology, 6,400 respondents, aged 15 - 64 years, are selected randomly within each sex and 10-year age-group. Out of 6,400 participants, 6,117 were selected, which is approximately 95.6%.
Results: The prevalence of smoking was higher among males (37.4%) compared with females (19.7%). In all age groups, the prevalence of smoking was higher among males compared with females. Regarding the age group of 15 - 24 years, the prevalence of smoking was 16.0%, but in the age group of 25 - 34 years, it nearly doubled to the rate of 31.9%. We have a smaller increase in the age group of 35 - 44 years, and after the age of 45, it falls gradually.
Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking in Kosova is high compared with other countries in Eastern Europe. In future decades, Kosova will face a high probability of an increased burden of smoking-related diseases.
Uvod: Uživanje tobaka je še vedno eden izmed glavnih vzrokov smrti, ki bi jih lahko prepreĉili. Veĉina teh smrti se zgodi v državah z nižjim in srednjim prihodkom, po priĉakovanjih pa se bo ta trend v naslednjih nekaj desetletjih še povečal. Cilj te študije je opis in analiza kadilskega vedenja odraslih na Kosovu.
Metode: Glede na metodologijo STEPS je bilo nakljuĉno izbranih 6.400 anketirancev obeh spolov, starih med 15 in 64 let; razdeljeni so bili v starostne skupine po10 let. Izmed 6.400 anketirancev jih je bilo v študijo vključenih 6.117, kar je približno 95,6%.
Rezultati: Prevalenca kajenja je bila veĉja med odraslimi moškimi (37,4%) v primerjavi z ženskami (19,7%). V vseh starostnih skupinah je bila prevalenca kajenja višja med moškimi kot med ženskami. V starostni skupini med 15 in 24 let je bila prevalenca kajenja 16,9%, v starostni skupini med 25 in 34 let pa se je skoraj podvojila (31,9%). Prav tako je prisotno manjše povišanje v starostni skupini med 35 in 44 let, po 45. letu pa odstotek postopno pada.
Zakljuĉki: Prevalenca kajenja na Kosovu je v primerjavi z ostalimi državami v Vzhodni Evropi visoka.V prihodnosti se bo Kosovo sooĉalo z visoko verjetnostjo povišanega bremena zaradi bolezni, povezanih s kajenjem.
Keywords: Kosova; adults; prevalence; smoking.