Findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia--smoking initiation, prevalence of tobacco use and cessation.
OBJECTIVE
To show selected findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.


METHODS
Representative sample of 16918 school children aged 13-15 years; data were obtained through uniform questionnaires. The fieldwork was conducted in 2002 and 2003.


RESULTS
Age at initiation of smoking was particularly earlier in Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia than in Hungary. Over one third of the students reported current cigarette smoking in Czech Republic (34.9%) and Hungary (33.5%) compared to about one-fourth in Slovakia (24.3%) and Poland (23.3%). Among current smokers, about two thirds in Slovakia (64.0%) desired to stop smoking, while only one third in Hungary (36.7%). The prevalence of current cigarette smoking was similar between genders.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking prevalence in these countries is considerably higher than worldwide data. Women's smoking could be an important public health problem in the future. Repeated surveys could show trends and give a clearer picture of the epidemiological situation.
Baska
Tibor
T
Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Martin, Slovakia. baska@jfmed.uniba.sk
Sovinová
Hana
H
Nemeth
Agnes
A
Przewozniak
Krysztof
K
Warren
Charles W
CW
Kavcová
Elena
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires