|
|
|
Learning Objectives: realise the nature and extense of a problem of adolescent tobacco use and a need to create a comprehensive tobacco control program
Abstract:
Problem/Objective:Smoking is major preventabile cause of tobacco related morbidity and mortality in adult population worldwide. As the onset of smoking usually happens in adolescence, the key strategy for healthier adults is prevention of smoking among adolescents.Aim or this survey was to explore smoking patterns among adolescents (10-19 years) in purpose of creating a specific tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
Methods:The survey was conducted among 3000 adolescents of both gender in Novi Sad by self-administrating Global Youth Tobacco Survey questionairre.
Results:There were 45,9% boys and 54,1% in the poll, average age of 14,3 years, SD=2,3. Although about 22% declared themselves as smokers, every second adolescent experimented with cigarette and there is statistical diffence in gender, as girls were more likely to do it than boys. That happened usually at the age between 14-15 and 12-13. Consequently, there was 60,8% girls among smokers. Adolescents smoked mostly during parties, at their homes and in the public places. They were exposed to parental and/or peer tobacco smoke in 2/3 cases and every fifth was exposed to tobacco smoke by siblings, with no gender difference. Girls were more likely to consider quitting tobacco use in close future, although they more frequently saw themselves as smokers in next 12 months time.
Conclusions:The problem of adolescent tobacco use is obvious, especially among girls. Therefore it is neccesary to implement school-based tobacco control program, and to motivate present adolescent smokers as well as their parents and siblings to attend smoking cessation therapy in out-patient clinics.
See more of POSTERS - Evaluation & Surveillance
See more of Evaluation and Surveillance
See more of The 2005 National Conference on Tobacco or Health (May 4-6, 2005)