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[Smoking and school children: context, opinions and behavior]
J R Villalbí1, R Vives, M Nebot
1Institut Municipal de la Salut, Ajuntament de Barcelona. jrvillal@imsb.bcn.es
Medicina Clinica
|July 3, 1998
Summary
This study found a decrease in regular smoking among 13-14-year-old students in Barcelona. While experimentation with tobacco remained stable, fewer students became regular smokers over time.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Investigates smoking epidemiology within school-age populations.
- Focuses on trends in adolescent tobacco use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze changes in smoking prevalence among 8th-grade students.
- To assess the evolution of tobacco experimentation and regular smoking over time.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey design.
- Data collected from 8th-grade students (13-14 years-old) in Barcelona.
- Surveys conducted in 1987, 1992, and 1994.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in the proportion of regular smokers was observed, from 12.6% in 1987 to 9.5% in 1994 (p < 0.05).
- This represents an average annual decrease of 3.5% in regular smoking.
- The proportion of students experimenting with tobacco remained stable during the study period.
Conclusions:
- A notable decline in the prevalence of regular smoking among school-aged children (13-14 years-old) in Barcelona, Spain.
- Suggests potential effectiveness of interventions or changing social norms regarding regular smoking in this age group.