The changes in smoking habits in a rural adolescent population, 1975-89

A survey of tobacco smoking habits in 435 adolescent schoolchildren was undertaken in 1989 in a rural, largely Maori population. The survey questionnaire was identical to that used in a 1975 survey at the same school. Among this group, Maori still smoke more often than nonMaori (36.6% vs 25.2%), and currently this is particularly true for females (46.7% vs 31.3%). Among currently smoking Maori, both in males and females cigarette consumption has significantly risen (median per week: 15 vs 30), despite an overall fall in the proportion of the groups who report smoking within the previous month (57.1% vs 36.6%). As a result, there are now significantly more smokers in the highest consumption group than previously (7.0% vs 12.6%), particularly among Maori females (7.5% vs 16%). Similar but lesser trends have occurred among nonMaori, with the exception that in addition to cigarette consumption, the proportion of females currently smoking has also tended to rise. There remains considerable cause for concern about smoking among this younger age group.