Prevalence and risk factors associated with smoking among school children, Southern Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of smoking among students and associated factors.


METHODS
Secondary data from the Vigescola Survey, conducted in the cities of Curitiba, Florianópolis and Porto Alegre (Southern Brazil) between 2002 and 2004, were used. Sample comprised 3,690 school children, aged between 13 and 15 years, and enrolled in the 7th and 8th grades of primary school and 1st grade of high school, in public and private schools. Weighted proportions and odds ratio (OR) were estimated and multiple logistic regression was used to analyze results.


RESULTS
Smoking prevalence rates were 10.7% (95% CI: 10.2;11.3) in Florianópolis, 12.6% (95% CI: 12.4;12.9) in Curitiba and 17.7% (95% CI: 17.4;18.0) in Porto Alegre. Risk factors associated with smoking among schoolchildren in Curitiba were: female sex (OR=1.49), smoking father (OR=1.59), smoking friends (OR=3.46), exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke outside the home (OR=3.26), and having some object with cigarette brand logos (OR=3.29). In Florianópolis, variables associated with smoking were: female schoolchildren (OR=1.26), having smoking friends (OR=9.31), exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke at home (OR=2.03) and outside the home (OR=1.45) and having seen advertisements on posters (OR=1.82). In Porto Alegre, variables associated with tobacco use among school children were: female sex (OR=1.57), aged between 14 years (OR=1.77) and 15 years (OR=2.89), smoking friends (OR=9.12), exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke at home (OR=1.87) and outside the home (OR=1.77) and having some object with cigarette brand logos (OR=2.83).


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking prevalence among school children aged between 13 and 15 years is high. Factors significantly associated with it and common to the three capitals were as follows: having smoking friends and being exposed to environmental smoke outside the home.
Hallal
Ana Luiza Curi
AL
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. anacuri@gmail.com
Gotlieb
Sabina Léa Davidson
SL
Almeida
Liz Maria de
LM
Casado
Letícia
L
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution