Objective: To understand the prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use in ethnic Hui and Han residents in Ningxia Hui autonomous region and provide evidence for the smoking cessation and alcohol use reduction in minority area.
Methods: Face to face interview was performed in 6 476 subjects aged ≥ 18 years who were selected through systematic sampling in Ningxia. The tobacco use and alcohol use related disorders were evaluated with Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 (CIDI 3.0 ) according to International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10 ).
Results: A total of 5 811 subjects completed the survey, the prevalence of current smoking was 19.15%, which was significantly higher in males than in females (44.73% vs. 1.51%, χ² =1 693.25, P<0.001). The prevalence of current smoking was lower in Hui males than in Han males (33.19% vs. 51.95%, χ² =79.99, P<0.001). The prevalence of tobacco dependence was 1.75% in males, the difference between Hui ethnic group and Han ethnic group had no statistical significance (χ² = 0.02, P=0.958). The prevalence of alcohol use was 5.78%, and it was significantly higher in males than in females (12.48% vs. 1.16%), the difference had statistical significance (χ² =329.94, P<0.001). The prevalence of alcohol use was lower in Hui males than in Han males (4.71% vs. 17.34%), the difference had statistical significance (χ² =82.03, P<0.001). The prevalence of alcohol use related disorders was 6.03% in males, and it was higher in Han ethnic group than in Hui ethnic group (3.50% vs. 7.61% ), the difference had statistical significance (χ² =16.68, P<0.001).
Conclusion: The prevalence of tobacco use and alcohol use were lower in Hui ethnic group than in Han ethnic group in Ningxia, which might be explained by the influence of the tradition of Hui ethnic group.