Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112848

Paula B. Repetto, PhD, Psychology Department, P. Universidad Catolica de Chile, Vicuņa Mackenna 4860, Santiago, ----, Chile, 5624585175, prepetto@uc.cl

Using data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) we examined predictors of current smoking (number of cigarettes smoked in the past thirty days) among Argentinian, Bolivian, Chilean, and Peruvian youth between 11 and 17 years of age. Using multiple regression models we examined predictors of smoking among youth of each four countries separated (Intraclass Correlation suggested that patterns of use differed across countries). The results found revealed some similarities and differences across countries. We found that intentions to smoke (in 12 months and 5 years) predicted current smoking among youth, and that older adolescents smoked more than younger ones. Males smoked more than females in Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. We also found that parents' influence was limited to having discussed the harmful effects of smoking for youth in Argentina and Chile. Having a father who smoked was found to influence this behavior only among Peruvian youth. Our findings indicate that social factors are important predictors of smoking among these youth. We found that having close friends who smoke predicted current smoking for all youth studied. We also found that Chilean and Peruvian youth who think that those adolescents who smoke have more friends smoked more, and also did those youth who thought that smoking helped them feel more confident in social situations. Exposure to smoking outside the house predicted smoking among Bolivian, Chilean, and Peruvian youth. We discuss other results and the implications of all findings to understand predictors of smoking among youth in general, and particularly, in Latinamerica.

Learning Objectives:

• - Describe predictors of smoking behavior among Latin American youth.
• - Understand differences in factors that predict cigarette smoking among youth of different countries.
• - Recognize the relevance of different influences in cigarrette smoking among youth.

Keywords: Tobacco, International

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.