 |
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
|
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
R. Valdés-Salgado1, J. M. Micher1, L. Hernández1, Mauricio Hernandez2, and Mauricio Hernandez-Avila, MD, ScD3. (1) Centro de Investigacion en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Avenida Universidad No. 655, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, 0173 175391, rayvs@correo.insp.mx, (2) Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Avenida Universidad No. 655, Cuernavaca, Mexico, (3) National Institute of Public Health, Avenida Universidad No. 655, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Every academic year, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a school system that includes high school and college, applies a health related questionnaire to all its freshmen asking, among other things, about tobacco consumption. The questions related to smoking were analyzed for two age groups, 14-18 and 18-25 years old, from questionnaires dating from 1989 to 1998. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine smoking trends in adolescents and young students. Methods: We conducted trend analyses based on 1989 through 1998 current smoking prevalence data among new students in the UNAM. Also, the prevalence of eleven-or-more-cigarettes-per-day smokers was analyzed. Age-specific prevalence rates were calculated. Sex and age variables were controlled. A follow up was carried out and incidence rates by gender were calculated. Results: Overall smoking prevalence increased during this period. Tobacco consumption for minors and females rose abruptly from 1993. A positive association between cigarettes-consumed-per-day and socio-economic level was observed as well. High school is the time-period when more students start to smoke; incidence rates are 12% for female and 19% for male. Conclusions: In the last decade, evident changes in adolescent and young adult smoking patterns have occurred. Promotional anti-tobacco activities targeted at young people are necessary.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.