Gender differences in cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking among adolescents and young adults in Hanoi, Shanghai, and Taipei

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine gender differences in smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors in three Asian cities of Hanoi, Shanghai, and Taipei, and to assess the magnitude of gender differences across the three cities. METHODS: A total of 17,016 adolescents (age: 15–19 years) and young adults (age: 20–24 years) were selected using multi-stage sampling methods and surveyed in face-to-face interviews. A total of 16,554 unmarried respondents were included in this analysis. RESULTS: Gender differences were significant for smoking only, drinking only, and both behaviors in each city. Male respondents were 30.66 times more likely to report smoking only than female respondents in Hanoi, followed by Shanghai and Taipei. This pattern was similar for drinking only and both smoking and drinking behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of gender differences in smoking only, drinking only, and both behaviors widely varies across the three cities. Further research can examine how these differences may be used to prevent and reduce smoking and drinking in the adolescent and young adult population.