Passive smoking among adolescents in Estonia

Abstract

1 The objective ofthis study was to assess prevalence and patterns of passive smoking in Estonia and to describe how environmental tobacco smoke is likely to initiate the desire in adolescents to start active smoking.

2 A population sample of 2170 students within the age groups of 13-14,15-16 and 17-18 of school grades 8, 10 and 12, respectively, at Tallinn High Schools participated in this study. The data w,ere collected using questionnaires which mainly consisted of structured multiple-choice and a few open questions.

3 Every fourth adolescent in Tallinn was either an occasional or a habitual smoker.

4 Nearly half (48%) of the respondents had no daily exposure to cigarette smoke. Almost one third (31%) was exposed daily for less than 1 h, 15% for 1-5 h and 6% for over 5 h a day.

5 The number of adolescent smokers was higher than non-smokers among those daily inhaling tobacco sidestream smoke.

6 In conclusion, environment gives considerable impact to the development of smoking habits among adolescents. Passive smoking as an inducing factor is associated with higher prevalence of smoking among the adolescents studied.

Keywords

adolescents passive smoking inducing factor

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