Prevalence and factors associated with smoking among adolescents
Journal Title: Jornal de Pediatria - Year 2017, Vol 93, Issue 3
Abstract
Objective Despite anti-smoking prevention programs, many adolescents start smoking at school age. The main objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with smoking in adolescents living in Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. Methods A prospective study was conducted in adolescents (12–19 years), enrolled in municipal schools, who answered a self-administered questionnaire on smoking. Results 798 adolescents were enrolled in the study, with equal distribution between genders. The tobacco experimentation frequency (ever tried a cigarette, even one or two puffs) was 29.3%; 14.5% started smoking before 12 years of age and 13.0% reported smoking at least one cigarette/day last month. Having a smoking friend (OR: 5.67, 95% CI: 2.06–7.09), having cigarettes offered by friends (OR: 4.21, 95% CI: 2.46–5.76) and having easy access to cigarettes (OR: 3.82, 95% CI: 1.22–5.41) was identified as factors associated with smoking. Having parental guidance on smoking (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.45–0.77), having no contact with cigarettes at home in the last week (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.11–0.79) and knowing about the dangers of electronic cigarettes (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.21–0.92) were identified as protection factors. Conclusion The prevalence of smoking among adolescents in Uruguaiana is high. The implementation of measures to reduce/stop tobacco use and its new forms of consumption, such as electronic cigarettes and hookah, are urgent and imperative in schools.
Authors and Affiliations
Dirceu Solé
Necrotizing enterocolitis and appendicitis in preterm infants
Dear Editor, I read with great interest the article entitled “There is an association between disease location and gestational age at birth in newborns submitted to surgery due to necrotizing enterocolitis”, by Feldens e...
Parameters indicative of persistence of valvular pathology at initial diagnosis in acute rheumatic carditis: the role of albumin and CD19 expression
Objective The aim of this study is to define the predictors of chronic carditis in patients with acute rheumatic carditis (ARC). Methods Patients diagnosed with ARC between May 2010 and May 2011 were included in the stu...
Spirometry and volumetric capnography in lung function assessment of obese and normal-weight individuals without asthma
Objective To analyze and compare lung function of obese and healthy, normal-weight children and adolescents, without asthma, through spirometry and volumetric capnography. Methods Cross-sectional study including 77 subj...
Varicella complications and universal immunization
Varicella is one of the most common infectious diseases, with a worldwide distribution. According to a WHO position paper, the global annual disease burden of varicella is estimated to be 140 million cases.1 Despite the...
Glucose alteration and insulin resistance in asymptomatic obese children and adolescents
Objective Obesity is associated with the abnormal glucose metabolism preceding type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus, further investigation on the prediction of this lethal outcome must be sought. The objective was the profile...