Purpose: The study was done to explore
relationships between residential areas and smoking
rates and to identify related factors contributing to
smoking in Korea adolescents. Methods: An analysis
was done of smoking rates and socioeconomic position
indicators by city size based on a 2012 cross-sectional
nationwide online survey conducted with 74,186 Korean
middle and high school students aged 12-18 years old.
Data were analyzed using x2-test and multiple logistic
regression with the SPSS/WIN18.0 program. Results:
Analyses revealed that rural boys were more likely to
be current smokers compared to metropolitan boys
(odds ratio 1.18, 95%-confidence interval 1.01; 1.38) but
residential areas and smoking rates among girls were
not related. After adjusting for covariates, results
showed that city size, Family affluence score, economic
status, parents' education level, living with parents,
school type, and school achievement were related to
increased an proportion of adolescents who smoked.
Conclusion: In conclusion, rural living is a
determinant of smoking among boys. Tobacco control
programs should recognize differences in living
conditions between rural and urban areas.