title: Characteristics of young female smokers in a Swedish primary health care area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the correlation between smoking, socioeconomic characteristics, and sexual and contraceptive patterns in young women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional population study, smokers compared with non-smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nättraby-Hasslö, a rural area in southern Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  All women between 15-34 years of age (n = 541).
  
  
  RESULTS
  26% smoked daily. Smokers on average had less schooling, lower 9th grade results, less satisfaction in school, and more unskilled professions than non-smokers. Apart from a higher parental divorce rate among smokers, no correlation between parental factors and smoking was found. Smokers on average reported an earlier sexual debut, more unprotected first intercourse, more life-time sexual partners, and more legal abortions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking is associated with sexual habits, which may reflect a higher tendency to take personal risks among smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Central Hospital, Karlskrona, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liljestrand
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Josefsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brännström
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology