Who is more likely to have a quit intention in Brazil's major cities? Findings from the ITC Brazil Wave 3 Survey

Background Intentions to quit is the strongest predictor of a future quit attempt. Therefore, identifying factors that are positively or negatively related to quit intentions is important to health care providers and researchers to develop effective smoking session services. Brazil has been a global leader in many tobacco control domains but has recognized the need to strengthen its cessation services. This study examined the factors associated with quit intentions among Brazilian smokers. Methods Data were analyzed from Wave 3 (2016-17) of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Brazil Survey, a longitudinal cohort survey of representative samples of adult smokers in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Porto Alegre (N=1,216). Main outcome was having a quit intention. Results Having a quit intention within the next 6 months in Brazil was 49%, the highest of 25 ITC countries. 43% had made quit attempts in the past year. The following variables were positively associated with intentions to quit: being older (55+years; OR=3.07,p=0.04), having low (OR=2.51,p=0.03) or moderate (OR=2.53,p=0.01) income, attempting to quit in the past year (OR=3.20,p< .0001), believing that quitting is beneficial (OR=5.09, p< .0001), worrying about future health consequences of smoking (OR=3.26,p=0.01), and reporting that smoking is not enjoyable (OR=1.98,p=0.001). Gender, education, and nicotine dependence were unrelated to quit intentions. 67% of smokers who had seen a health care professional in the past year reported being given advice to quit. 79% of smokers wanted the government to do more to help smokers quit. Conclusions Quit intentions are high in Brazil, and predictors of intentions are similar to those of many ITC countries (high-income and low-and middle-income countries). The vast majority of Brazilian smokers want the government to do more to help them quit. These findings support the need to strengthen cessation services to meet the growing demand of smokers who want to quit.