OBJECTIVES: Epidemiological characteristics in tobacco smoking among adolescents were investigated in Thessaloniki, Greece. METHODS: The target sample was 1,221 students coming from 15 high schools. RESULTS: Cigarette smoking was higher among girls than boys (40.9% vs. 34.3%). However, the percentage of boys who were smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day was found larger than the relevant percentage of girls (81.2% vs. 75% of total smokers). The boys also reported an earlier initiation of tobacco use (12.7 years vs. 12.9 years in girls). Physical activity was negatively correlated with smoking, whereas drinking alcohol and low parental education were positively correlated with smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Health promotion programs should be instituted not only during adolescence, but rather before the age of 14.
OBJECTIVES: Epidemiological characteristics in tobacco smoking among adolescents were investigated in Thessaloniki, Greece. METHODS: The target sample was 1,221 students coming from 15 high schools. RESULTS: Cigarette smoking was higher among girls than boys (40.9% vs. 34.3%). However, the percentage of boys who were smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day was found larger than the relevant percentage of girls (81.2% vs. 75% of total smokers). The boys also reported an earlier initiation of tobacco use (12.7 years vs. 12.9 years in girls). Physical activity was negatively correlated with smoking, whereas drinking alcohol and low parental education were positively correlated with smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Health promotion programs should be instituted not only during adolescence, but rather before the age of 14.
Authors: Tibor Baška; Charles W Warren; Henrieta Hudečková; Róbert Ochaba; Peter Sťastný; Veronica Lea; Juliette Lee Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2010-07-06 Impact factor: 3.380