[Smoking among elementary school children. Study in a population of low socioeconomic level]

We surveyed a probabilistic sample of 1383 school children attending elementary school (5th to 8th grade) in La Pincoya, a neighborhood of northern Santiago. 53.7% had smoked at least once, and 1 out of 5 were regular smokers of 1-4 cigarettes (72%) or more than 5 cigarettes a day (14%). The incidence of smoking was higher among boys and increased with age. Smoking occurs in different places including the street (19%). About 60% of children get their cigarettes from other children or adults. Those who buy, do so by units rather than packs. The incidence of smoking raised to 64% among children of parents who smoked. Pleasure or imitation were quoted as main reasons for smoking.