E-cigarette use frequency and motivations among current users in middle school

The popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased worldwide among youth, even in countries like Mexico that ban them. This study aimed to assess the correlates of e-cigarette use frequency among Mexican students who currently use ecigarettes, as well as to describe their reasons for use.

Data were analyzed from a school-based survey of 57 public middle schools from the three largest cities in Mexico. Primary analyses were confined to those who used e-cigarettes in the prior 30 days. Censored binomial models for truncated distributions were estimated, regressing lifetime and past month frequency of use on participant sociodemographics, other substance use (smoking, alcohol, drugs), technophilia (appeal of new technologies), characteristics of e-cigarettes used, and family's and friends' use of nicotine products.

Being male (APR = 1.93 95% CI 1.53-2.44), using drugs, (APR = 1.51 95% CI 1.03-2.20), higher technophilia (APR = 1.66 CI 1.21-2.29) and having a family member who uses e-cigarettes and cigarettes were associated with more frequent use in the last month. Students who preferred fruit and combined flavors had used e-cigarettes more often in their lifetime compared to students who preferred mint/menthol flavors.

Some risk factors for more frequent e-cigarette use among Mexican youth are similar to those foudn in other countries (having relatives who use ecigarettes, using drugs, and use of fruit flavors). Additionally, the novel measure of technophilia was positively associated with frequency of e-cigarette use. The appeal of flavors, in particular, suggests the importance of reducing youth access to flavored products to impede product initiation and progression.