title: Adolescents' smoking experiences, family structure, parental smoking and socio-economic status in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Tobacco use and secondhand-tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure are classified as a pediatric disease. In Mexico, the prevalence of smoking has decreased among adults but paradoxically increased among adolescents, particularly among young females. This study was designed to determine the association between adolescents' smoking experiences (smoking behaviors and second hand smoke [SHS] exposure), family structure, parental smoking and socio-economic status (SES) in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional, population-based study. Data was collected from sixth-grade students (N = 506) attending school in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Descriptive analyses were conducted. The relationship between key outcome variables (adolescents smoking and SHS exposure) and independent variables (family structure, parental smoking, and SES level) were examined. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed while controlling for possible confounders (i.e. gender and age).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of ever/lifetime smoking and SHS exposure at home was 29.6 and 41.1 %, respectively. Results of the logistic regression analysis show that being a member of a non-intact family [(OR = 2.20; 95 % CI = 1.21-3.90) and (OR = 2.45; 95 % CI = 1.19-4.10) respectively], having parents who smoke [(OR = 4.41; 95 % CI = 2.15-5.46) and (OR = 4.95; 95 % CI = 2.25-7.12) respectively], and living in low SES setting [(OR = 1.73; 95 % CI = 1.43-3.30) and (OR = 1.99; 95 % CI = 1.16-4.00) respectively] are significantly associated with ever smoking and SHS exposure at home among sixth grade students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of our study show that tobacco use and SHS exposure are strongly associated with adolescents living in low SES, non-intact households that have parents that smoke. To be effective, tobacco strategies specifically tailored for this particularly vulnerable group of adolescents would require a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach centered on prevention, cessation and protection.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, E-Wing Health Sciences, Room 3322, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada. yelena.bird@usask.ca.
authors.forename: Yelena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Juárez, Mexico. hstaines@uacj.mx.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Staines-Orozco
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, E-Wing Health Sciences, Room 3322, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada. john.moraros@usask.ca.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moraros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D012923:Social Class; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution