Predictors of smoking in a cross section of novice mine workers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine demographic predictors of smoking status amongst novice mine workers. SETTING: Prospective mine workers undergoing fitness examination at the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Current smoking status. RESULTS: Smoking status is significantly linked to age, race group, nationality and previous employment status. Education is also a predictor of smoking status, but the association is weak. Smoking prevalence in subgroups of novice mine workers varies from less than 10% to nearly 75%. CONCLUSION: Assumptions of very high smoking rates amongst all mine workers are too simplistic. Smoking cannot be regarded globally as a major confounder of occupational exposure and occupational lung disease for all groups of mine workers.