Pulmonary function and factors associated with current smoking among the hill tribe populations in northern Thailand: a cross-sectional study

Smoking is an important health behavior that may lead to several health complications, such as cancer (CA) [1, 2], cardiovascular disease (CVD) [3], and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [4]. The diseases that develop from smoking behavior require costly care and treatment [5]. Most smokers end their lives with poor physical and mental health [6]. The impacts are not limited to individuals who smoke; they extend to their family members, community and nation through socioeconomic systems [6]. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.4 trillion dollars are lost due to smoking among the global population [7]. The WHO reported that more than 8 million people are killed by smoking behavior each year; 87.5% are directly killed by smoking, and the others are killed by second-hand smoking [6]. A significant point is that more than 80.0% of those who die because of smoking live in developing countries, including Thailand.

Thailand is classified as a developing country [8] with an estimated total population of 67 million in 2019 [9]. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation reported that 553,611 patients were treated for issues related to smoking in 2017, with an expenditure of approximately 21,389 million baht [10]. The Ministry of Public Health Thailand estimated that, in the Thai population aged 15 years and older, 10.7 million people (19.1% prevalence) were defined as smokers in 2019, and those aged 25–44 years constituted the greatest proportion of smokers [11]. In 2018, WHO reported 114,199 deaths from cancers, and 170,495 cases of cancers were treated in Thailand [12]. Among the on-treatment cancer patients, most had lung cancer (14.1%), liver cancer (13.7%), and breast cancer (11.4%) [12]. Importantly, among smokers, the reduction in pulmonary function is an urgent issue, particularly among those working in agricultural sections who require extensive physical energy to complete their daily duties. A comparative study conducted in Thailand clearly indicated that those who smoked had a significantly reduced pulmonary function compared with those who did not [13]. The Ministry of Public Health stated that the populations most vulnerable to smoking have a poor education and economic status, such as the hill tribe people [14].

The hill tribe migrated from southern China over centuries to settle in the mountainous areas of northern Thailand, far from large cities [15]. The WHO reported that six main groups of hill tribes exist in Thailand—Akha, Lahu, Hmong, Yao, Karen, and Lisu—comprising approximately 3.5–4.0 million people in 2017 [16]. All hill tribe people have their lifestyles and patterns of culture, with some patterns related to substance use behaviors, including smoking [17]. Given their living conditions, particularly poor economic conditions and poor education, the hill tribe people are highly likely to adopt smoking behaviors. Apidechkul et al. [18] reported that more than 30.0% of hill tribe people were not granted the Thai identification card (ID), which is used to access public services, including free medical services [19]. Therefore, for people who have health problems, access to medical services is difficult.

There is very limited scientific information on smoking behaviors and pulmonary function. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of smoking, assess pulmonary function, and identify the factors associated with current smoking behavior among people of the hill tribe aged 20 years and older in northern Thailand.

In total, 2216 participants were recruited into the study; 54.6% were women, 80.3% were aged 30–59 years, and 86.1% were married. The average age of the men was 49.7 years (SD = 11.3) and that of the women was 46.8 years (SD = 10.1), with a statistically significant difference (p-value< 0.001). The proportions of participants by tribes were 14.8–19.0%. More than half were Buddhist (54.8%), uneducated (53.4%), and had annual family income of 10,000–50,000 baht (59.6%) (Table 1).

Regarding smoking behaviors, 36.3% were currently smoking, 50.1% smoked for 9 years or less, 80.1% smoked 10 pieces or less per day, 64.2% used traditional tobacco, and 89.6% spent less than 50 baht per day (2$US). Less than half (42.8%) had low to moderate levels of knowledge of the harms of smoking, and 68.4% had low to moderate levels of attitudes toward the harms of smoking. Regarding other substances, 42.5% used alcohol, 4.5% used amphetamines, and 4.2% used opium (Table 2).

Comparing smoking behaviors and pulmonary function, only sex was found to be statistically significant (p-value< 0.001). Pulmonary function was not significantly different among the different groups of smoking behaviors (Table 3).

In univariate analyses, 12 variables were associated with current smoking: sex, age, tribe, marital status, religion, education, occupation, alcohol use, amphetamine use, opium use, marijuana use, and attitudes toward the harms of smoking.

In multivariate analysis, after controlling for age, sex, religion, and education, three variables were found to be associated with current smoking among the hill tribe people in Thailand. Men were 7.52 times more likely to smoke than women (95% CI = 5.53–10.24). Those who used amphetamines were 2.92 times more likely to smoke than those who did not (95% CI = 1.69–5.03), and those who had low attitudes toward the harms of smoking were 2.47 times more likely to smoke than those who had a good attitude toward the harms of smoking 2 (95% CI = 1.53–3.97) (Table 4).

In this study, the hill tribe people aged 20 years and older living in Thailand had a poor education and economic status. One-third were smokers (36.3%) and spent a considerable amount of money buying cigarettes, even with a low family income. They used different substances but at a low rate. Pulmonary function and oxygen saturation did not differ among the nonsmokers, ever smokers, and current smokers. Differences were found among current smokers regarding sex, tribe and age group. Characteristics that served as influencing factors of current smoking were sex, amphetamine use, and attitudes toward the harms of smoking.

The Ministry of Education, Thailand reported that 96.0% of the Thai population aged 15–59 years were educated under the Thailand educational system; 22.0% earned a university degree, 20.0% graduated at high school level, 19.0% graduated at the secondary school level, and 35.0% graduated at the primary school level [24]. However, among the hill tribe people, 53.4% never attended any educational system in Thailand. Concerning family income, the National Statistical Office, Thailand reported that the average annual family income of the Thai population was 323,352 baht (10,778US$) while it was 42,000 baht (1400US$) among the hill tribe family per year [25]. The information could reflect that the hill tribe people in Thailand have lower education and income levels than the Thai general population.

Our study found that the prevalence of current smoking among hill tribe people aged 20 years and older was 20.5%, and men (36.7%) constituted a greater proportion of smokers than women (7.0%). However, no differences were found in the capacities (FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/FEC) and oxygen saturation of the pulmonary system among ever smokers, current smokers, and nonsmokers. The prevalence was similar to that in a nationwide study in Poland in 2019 of 1011 participants aged 15 years and older [26], at 21.0%. The prevalence among European students was 66.1%, and the mean age at the initiation of smoking was 16 years [27]. Studies from different countries have reported different prevalence rates of smoking: 54.0% in China [28], 67.8% in Japan [29], and 22.8% in Malaysia [30]. In the data analysis of different tobacco control interventions in Thailand [31], the prevalence was 29.2% in Thailand, slightly greater than the prevalence among the hill tribe people. Gautami et al. [32] reported that the prevalence of smoking among the female Thai population aged 15 years and older was 3.4%, and people living in rural northern regions reported the highest prevalence, which was lower than that of hill tribe women.

Interestingly, pulmonary function was not significantly different among those who currently smoked, ever smoked, and never smoked. A study conducted in the United States reported that former smokers and current smokers had a significantly poorer lung function than never smokers [33]. A study in Pakistani youths in 2018 reported that smoking behaviors were associated with declining pulmonary function [34]. In Thailand, a community-based cross-sectional study reported that long-term smoking behaviors affected potential lung function [13]. To detect the association between smoking behaviors and lung function, a stronger study design, such as a case-control or a cohort study, is needed.

In this study, we found that men had a 7.52 times greater chance of being a current smoker than women among hill tribe people aged 20 years and older. This finding coincides with a study in Ethiopia [35] reporting that men had a significantly greater chance of being current smokers than women. The finding was also supported by a study in Japan, reporting that men were at a greater risk of being current smokers than women among Japanese adults [36]. Additionally, a multifactor study in Korea reported that men had a greater likelihood of current smoking than women [37]. Moreover, men living in northern Thailand had a statistically greater risk of current smoking than women [38]. A triple country study in 2019 reported that male sex was a strong factor associated with current smoking in the Thai population [39].

A study in the United States in 2017 reported that the use of some substances, such as amphetamines, led to cigarette use [40]. Chomchoei et al. [41] reported that smoking could lead to the initiation of amphetamine use, which could also lead to smoking in the Akha and Lahu adult populations in northern Thailand. A qualitative study in Thailand reported that cigarette use and amphetamine use were significant among the young Thai population [42].

Among the hill tribe adults aged 20 years and older, those with poor attitudes toward the harms of smoking had greater odds of current smoking than those with good attitudes toward the harms of smoking. This finding coincides with that in a study in China [43] reporting that those with a better attitude toward the harms of smoking had less opportunity to smoke and a greater chance to quit smoking than those with a poor attitude. Additionally, a study in Taiwan among military conscripts [44] found that those with a better attitude toward the harms of smoking were at a lower risk of current smoking than those with poor attitudes toward the harms of smoking. A study of nursing students in Italy [45] demonstrated that having a good attitude toward the harms of smoking was associated with a lower risk of current smoking than those with a poor attitude toward the harms of smoking. A cross-sectional study in Lebanon [46] also reported that having a good attitude toward the harms of smoking was protective against current smoking behaviors among university students. This finding was similar to that in a study among medical students in Argentina [47] reporting that having a good attitude toward the harms of smoking was a protective factor against current smoking behaviors. A study in Bangkok [48], central Thailand, reported that poor knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking was a risk factor for current smoking.

Some limitations were found during this study. First, the ability of some participants to completely understand the content of the study was limited because their knowledge of Thai was limited. However, the village health volunteers were asked to help explain some questions on the questionnaire before completion of the form. Second, during the collection of information on pulmonary function using spirometry, the participants needed to strictly follow the instructions to ensure that the correct results were obtained. However, elderly persons did not clearly understand or correctly follow the instructions. This issue was improved by explanations of the details of the instructions by local health volunteers who were fluent in Thai and their local languages.

The hill tribe people in northern Thailand live with a poor education and economic status. Moreover, hill tribe people aged 20 years and older face a high prevalence of smoking behaviors and the use of several substances. Most of them smoke traditional tobacco and easily obtain cigarettes in their villages. Smoking behaviors are dominant in men, those with a poor attitude on smoking harms, and among those who used amphetamine. The hill tribe people must improve their knowledge on the harms of smoking to improve their attitude eventually. This point is critical for reducing smoking behavior, particularly in the male population. However, to improve knowledge, public health professionals must simplify the method and tools for providing health education because more than half of the hill tribe people are not educated. Moreover, all health messages should be translated in the hill tribe languages to achieve ultimately successful communication.