[Perception of health risks due to air pollution among adolescents in Mexico City].
OBJECTIVE
Analyze the relations established between air pollution and health-disease-death in a sample of students in Mexico City.


METHODS
Survey of 1274 students from 14 secondary schools in five areas in Mexico City was conducted between March and April of 2003. We used a multi-stage sampling, based in a basic geostatistical areas (AGEB).


RESULTS
A total of 84.4% believed that Mexico City has a high, or very high air pollution; that valuation decreases as it approaches the most immediate place in which the students live. The health risks range from effects on respiratory health, 66.9%, to other effects on daily life, 2.2%. The predictors that air pollution is perceived as serious/very serious are: 1) that they associate it with the possibility of causing death (OR= 1.35, 95% CI=1.02-1.77), and 2) that they attend schools located in the La Merced zone, (OR= 2.23, 95% CI= 1.56-3.21).


CONCLUSIONS
Determinants of perception, such as gender, zone where the school is located and the differences in air quality perceived in the city/area/schools, suggest that focalizing components must be involved in environmental policies, in order to make environmental programs more effective at the local level.
Catalán-Vázquez
Minerva
M
Departamento de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, México, DF, México. mininvest2001@yahoo.com.mx
Riojas-Rodríguez
Horacio
H
Jarillo-Soto
Edgar C
EC
Delgadillo-Gutiérrez
Héctor Javier
HJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D001290:Attitude; D003256:Community Participation; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014505:Urban Population
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter