Javier Mallol1, Marilyn Urrutia-Pereira2, Manuel J Mallol-Simmonds3, Lucas Calderón-Rodríguez4, Francisco Osses-Vergara5, Augusto Matamala-Bezmalinovic6. 1. Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Hospital CRS El Pino, University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Bagé, Brazil. 3. Hospital Barros Luco, Santiago, Chile. 4. Hospital de San José de la Mariquina, Valdivia, Chile. 5. Hospital del Salvador, Santiago, Chile. 6. Hospital de Chaitén, Chaitén, Chile.
Abstract
Background: Tobacco-smoking in children is one of the most crucial public health concerns, which could be highly prevalent in underprivileged populations. Methods: A cross sectional, random sampling survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of current tobacco-smoking and related risk factors among adolescents living in a low-income area of Santiago de Chile. Results: Of the 2,747 adolescents participating in the study, 24.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 22.3-25.5] were current smokers, with no significant difference between girls and boys. Factors associated with current smoking were as follows: positive attitude to smoking cigarettes offered by peers [odds ratio (OR) 8.0; 95% CI 5.7-11.3, P < 0.001], having smoking best friends (OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.6-6.0, P < 0.001), and passive smoking in the house (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-3.1, P = 0.008). A total of 16.8% (95% CI 11.4-18.2) of children had smoked an entire cigarette at the age of ≤12, and 62.3% (95% CI, 60.5-64.1) were passive smokers at home. Regarding nonsmoking children, 52.4% (95% CI 49.74-55.06) were exposed to tobacco smoke at home. Conclusion: The prevalence of current tobacco-smoking in adolescents is high and increasing compared to previous studies undertaken in the selected low-resourced area. Two-thirds of children who started smoking before the age of 12 years were current smokers at the time of the survey, highlighting the prevalence of the powerful addiction generated and the need for better preventive strategies against tobacco-smoking for children living in low-resource communities.
Background: Tobacco-smoking in children is one of the most crucial public health concerns, which could be highly prevalent in underprivileged populations. Methods: A cross sectional, random sampling survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of current tobacco-smoking and related risk factors among adolescents living in a low-income area of Santiago de Chile. Results: Of the 2,747 adolescents participating in the study, 24.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 22.3-25.5] were current smokers, with no significant difference between girls and boys. Factors associated with current smoking were as follows: positive attitude to smoking cigarettes offered by peers [odds ratio (OR) 8.0; 95% CI 5.7-11.3, P < 0.001], having smoking best friends (OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.6-6.0, P < 0.001), and passive smoking in the house (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-3.1, P = 0.008). A total of 16.8% (95% CI 11.4-18.2) of children had smoked an entire cigarette at the age of ≤12, and 62.3% (95% CI, 60.5-64.1) were passive smokers at home. Regarding nonsmoking children, 52.4% (95% CI 49.74-55.06) were exposed to tobacco smoke at home. Conclusion: The prevalence of current tobacco-smoking in adolescents is high and increasing compared to previous studies undertaken in the selected low-resourced area. Two-thirds of children who started smoking before the age of 12 years were current smokers at the time of the survey, highlighting the prevalence of the powerful addiction generated and the need for better preventive strategies against tobacco-smoking for children living in low-resource communities.
Authors: J Mallol; V Aguirre; M Mallol-Simmonds; A Matamala-Bezmalinovic; L Calderón-Rodriguez; F Osses-Vergara Journal: Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) Date: 2018-11-30 Impact factor: 1.667
Authors: André F S Amaral; David P Strachan; Peter G J Burney; Deborah L Jarvis Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2017-05-01 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: M Dahlui; N K Jahan; H A Majid; M Y Jalaludin; L Murray; M Cantwell; T T Su; N Al-Sadat Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-06-11 Impact factor: 3.240