[Smoking habits of students in the 9th to 11th grades in a regional district]

Among 769 pupils of the 9th to the 12th classes 77% of them had smoked for the first time between the 6th and 16th year of life, being 54% of the boys and 18% of the girls up to the 11th year and 80% and 58% respectively up to the 14th year of life. At the date of the investigation 43% of the pupils smoked and with the same percentage the parents did so. Among the pupils 20% smoked only sometimes, 20% up to 9 cigarettes every day and 3% 10 and more per day. There are sex differences in smoking habits. Boys have their first smoking experience earlier, they would smoke more regularly and more cigarettes with increasing age than girls. But more girls (34%) do smoke already than the mothers (28%). The smoking habit of the pupils is influenced essentially by the smoking habits of the parents, but also by their social position (qualification of the father). The relations between tobacco damage and cancerogenesis are emphasized. Health education for prevention of smoking should be promoted continuously and intensely, at least during school time and it should be referred to the adults, too.