What encourages and discourages children to smoke? Knowledge about health hazards and recommendations for health education.
A confidential smoking questionnaire was answered by 102 fourth formers and 89 sixth formers at a Dunedin High School. Thirty-nine percent of the sample were smoking (more than half infrequently), 42 percent had tried and given up and 19 percent had never tried a cigarette. Pupils' smoking habits were related to the smoking habits of their friends but not their parents. Most children associated cancer with smoking but only 37 percent associated it with cardiovascular disease and 18 percent gave an incorrect answer or answers. The main reason why children tried their first cigarette was curiosity (57 percent) but the main reason why "some children" take up smoking was to be tough and impress others (71 percent). Boys experimented earlier than girls (mean age boys, 10 years, two months, girls, 11 years, seven months). Children were most discouraged from smoking by the health risk (52 percent), and they thought that the best way to discourage others was to show them the harmful effects (32 percent) and increase health education (27 percent). Since 1961 smoking appears to have declined among European fourth form boys and increased among girls. More Maori or part-Maori pupils smoke than Europeans. The discussion includes suggestions for improving health education.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012925:Social Conformity