This paper aims at assessing and exploring socioeconomic inequalities in tobacco use in Kenya. Using the theory of fundamental causes, and concentration index, we investigate the determinants of tobacco use, and whether it disproportionately affects the poor. All data used in this study emanated from the 2014 Global Adult Tobacco Survey implemented in Kenya on a nationally representative sample of men and women aged 15 years and older. Our results suggest a link between tobacco use and socioeconomic inequality. Overall, poorer households are more affected by tobacco use than richer households. This socioeconomic inequality is more evident among men and households living in urban areas. The decomposition of the concentration index indicates that the overall socioeconomic inequality for current tobacco smokers is explained by 69.11% of household wealth. To reduce the prevalence rate of smoking in Kenya, policymakers could design and implement tobacco control programs through the equity lens. Community health workers could be used to promote non-smoking behaviors among the poor.

本文旨在评估和探索肯尼亚烟草使用的社会经济不平等。使用根本原因理论和集中指数，我们调查烟草使用的决定因素，以及它是否不成比例地影响穷人。本研究中使用的所有数据均来自 2014 年在肯尼亚实施的全球成人烟草调查，调查对象为全国代表性的 15 岁及以上男性和女性样本。我们的结果表明烟草使用与社会经济不平等之间存在联系。总体而言，与富裕家庭相比，贫困家庭更容易受到烟草使用的影响。这种社会经济不平等在城市地区的男性和家庭中更为明显。集中指数的分解表明，当前吸烟者的总体社会经济不平等可以用 69 来解释。家庭财富的 11%。为了降低肯尼亚的吸烟率，政策制定者可以从公平的角度设计和实施烟草控制计划。社区卫生工作者可用于促进穷人的非吸烟行为。