[School-age smoking in the province of Seville: results from the first phase of an anti-smoking campaign].
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence and intensity of smoking among school-age children in Seville by sex, age and type of population, as well as to examine expectations of future smoking.


METHODS
This study was part of a school anti-smoking campaign. The students completed an anonymous questionnaire based on the one formulated by the World Health Organization on population attitudes and habits.


RESULTS
Of 895 school-age subjects surveyed, 879 questionnaires were valid (428 boys and 451 girls). Ages ranged from 12 to 19 years (mean for boys: 15.4 +/- 1.6 years; for girls 14.6 +/- 1.5 years; p < 0.01). As many as 300 girls (67%) and 278 boys (65%) reported having tried a cigarette at some time. Active smoking was reported by 35% (16% occasionally and 19% daily) with no significant differences between boys and girls. The number of smokers increased with age, coming to represent more than half of subjects over 16 years of age, the proportion being even higher for girls aged 14 years and older. Smoking became well established at age 14 or older for most subjects. More rural than urban or large town dwellers reported smoking. The mean number of cigarettes smoked was higher for boys (8.7 +/- 7.4) than for girls (6.4 +/- 6.2) (p < 0.01). We found differences in boys' and girls' future expectations of smoking, as well as differences between habitual and occasional smokers, the latter group being less certain about whether to continue smoking in the future or not.
Alvarez Gutiérrez
F J
FJ
Unidad de EPOC e Infecciones Respiratorias. C.E. Fleming, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla. fag01se@nacom.es
Soto Campos
G
G
Vellisco García
A
A
Pérez Petit
M
M
Del Castillo
D
D
Calderón Osuna
E
E
Sánchez Gómez
J
J
Castillo
P
P
Castillo Gómez
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Tabaquismo escolar en la provincia de Sevilla: resultados de la primera fase de una campaña de prevención del tabaquismo.