[Smoking prevalence of elementary school students in Manisa]

In this study it is aimed to evaluate the prevalence of smoking, factors affecting smoking status, and the attitudes of the elementary school students towards the smoking prohibition law which was approved in July 2009, in city.

The universe of this descriptive study was 6th-7th-8th class, 8236 urban and 4937 semi-urban, total 13.173 elementary schools students in city center. Study population was determined on the basis of a previous study in which the smoking trial prevalence was found 17.5%, 831 students in 6 urban 3 semi-urban, total 9 schools were chosen randomly. A questionnaire was prepared investigating smoking status, the effects of smoking and family history. Among the 9 chosen schools, the questionnaire was applied to 615 students. SPSS 14.0 statistical package was used.

Forty-seven percentages of the students were female. Prevalence of smoking trial was found 23.5% (16% in urban, 35% in semi-urban schools) while the prevalence of smoking was 7.1% (1.7% in urban, 15.7% in semi-urban schools). Mean age of first smoking trial was 10.04 ± 2.3. The smoking prohibition law was supported by 86.6% of the students, the warnings on the cigarette package was thought to be effective by 43.3% students and 35.2% of the students were exposed to passive smoke. Male gender, social status, education level of the family, smoker family member or close friends were found to be important risk factors for smoking prevalence of the students.

The early onset of smoking should guide the smoking struggle be concentrated in elementary school especially in semi-urban areas where the smoking prevalence is high.