[Prevalence of smoking among high school students and teachers in Hamar 1999].
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of tobacco smoking among adolescents in Norway is about 36% for men and 27-42% for women. We explored the situation among high school pupils in a small Norwegian town.


METHODS
A questionnaire was distributed in the classroom of 62 classes. The classes comprised 79% of all high school pupils in the town. The pupils were not given the opportunity to communicate while they completed the questionnaires. Anonymity was guaranteed.


RESULTS
1,001 pupils (99.9%) completed the questionnaires, 1,000 (99.9%) answered all questions about smoking. 44% of the women and 36% of the men smoked. Among smokers, women significantly more often smoked 1-5 cigarettes per day, while men significantly more often smoked > 15 cigarettes per day. The prevalence of smoking was approximately 40% in the age groups 16-17 years, 18-19 years, and 20-21 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Most adolescents who start smoking, start before entering high school. Although women more often tend to smoke, they smoke less than men. The prevalence of smoking among adolescents in Norway is still high.
Rekve
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D000078329:Workforce