Tobacco use among school enrolled and no enrolled adolescent in Medellin, Colombia. A population survey.
BACKGROUND
Tobacco use among adolescents is a problematic risk behavior with early age of onset and consequences in health outcomes in adulthood.


OBJECTIVE
Estimate the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents at school and off school.


METHODS
A community-base cross sectional study was conducted during 2007 to estimate the prevalence of tobacco consumption in adolescents aged 12-15 (n=1.998), school and off school. A multistage probability sampling was conducted.


RESULTS
Life prevalence of tobacco consumption was 26.8% and currently use tobacco was 6%, the age onset was 11 years; non-enrolled in school adolescents had higher smoking rates. Majority of current smokers were able to buy cigarettes.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-enrolled adolescents have more risk to tobacco use. Public policies should generate strategies to intervene this population. It is important to conduct the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in a national sample of adolescents including of school adolescents and establish an epidemiological surveillance system of risk behaviors based on surveys conducted periodically.
Professor. Violence and risk behaviors research, Epidemiology research group, National School of Public health, Universidad of Antioquia, Colombia Address: Calle 62 51 - 59, of 214. Medellin, Colombia. Phone: (574)2196856. Fax: (574) 2196868. E-mail: alexandra.restrepo@udea. edu.co.
Alexandra
A
Restrepo
Professor. Violence and risk behaviors research, Epidemiology research group, National School of Public health, Universidad of Antioquia, Colombia Address: Calle 62 51 - 59, of 214. Medellin, Colombia. Phone: (574)2196856. Fax: (574) 2196868. E-mail: alexandra.restrepo@udea. edu.co.|Professor. Statistics applications and public health, National School of Public Health, Universidad of Antioquia. Colombia.
Nilton E
NE
Montoya
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*