[Smoking habits in beneficiaries of the social security].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of tobacco consumption (TC) and frequency according to demographics and health aspects.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study from the Mexican Family Life Survey Project was conducted. The past and present TC according to sociodemo-graphic variables and the presence of chronic diseases (CD) were achieved.


RESULTS
The prevalence of TC in the past was 21.4 % with a male/female ratio of 2.5. Nowadays TC was 15.2 % and the ratio between male/female was 2.6 (23.0: 8.9); exposure levels by age decreased at present. Out of the total smokers in the past 71 % continue with the habit, 75 % began TC before the age of 20. In the 15 to 19 years group, 50 % of them started before the age of 14. The highest cigarette pack consumption mean was 2.5 per week and for the present smokers was 1.8; the prevalence for CD in the smoking population was above 20 %; present smoking diminished in those with a history of CD, especially cancer and heart disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of past and present TC is lower than that reported in other studies in the Mexican population, because of how the exposure to TC was measure.
Vázquez-Martínez
José Luis
JL
División de Información en Salud, Coordinación de Políticas de Salud, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Distrito Federal, México. jose.vazquezma@imss.gob.mx
Mercadillo-Pérez
María Guadalupe
MG
Celis-Quintal
Juan Germán
JG
Navarrete-Espinosa
Joel
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012943:Social Security; D055815:Young Adult