Prevalence of cigarette smoking among employees of the Mexican National Institutes of Health

To determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking at the National Institutes of Health in Mexico (NIHM). A survey was performed among workers who voluntarily answered a questionnaire. Smokers were identified with two specific questions, and type of employment was classified as physicians, administrative staff, investigators and support personnel. Total prevalence smoking was 28% (of 4,422 answered questionnaires). It was significantly higher among females, among administrative staff, and common-law and separated workers. It was significantly higher at the Mexican Institute of Psychiatry than at the remaining Institutes, even after adjusting for confounding. The prevalence was also higher among physicians from the same Institute. Of the smokers, 46% do so in their work areas and 78% of them would like to quit. The prevalence of smokers at the NIHM is as high as in the general population and a broad educational program for tobacco control and prevention is needed.