Resumo

LACERDA, Andrea C.  e  CARDOSO, Margarida Fonseca. Smoking among Portuguese teenagers: assessing school, peer and family factors of vulnerability and protection. Rev. Port. Sau. Pub. [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.2, pp.17-25. ISSN 0870-9025.

Objective: Evaluate smoking prevalence among teenagers and identify associated social-behavioural factors. Methods: A cross sectional-study was carried out in May (2004) in a high school population (7^th-12^th grades) in the north of Portugal (n = 1005). The self-administered questionnaire contained items on smoking, sociodemographics, academic achievement, relatives and partner smoking habits. Results: The overall smoking prevalence rate was 19.7% (boys = 26.1%; girls = 14.6%) (OR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.502.83; p < 0.001). The prevalence of smoking was also associated with having smokers among their relatives, school failure and school grade. In secondary grade, students belonging to a science course were less likely to smoke. Having a girlfriend/boyfriend who smokes was associated with smoking. The prevalence of smoking among students with smokers among their relatives increased when they smoke near them (OR = 4.32; 95% CI 2.41-7.74; p < 0.001). Results indicated that at least 61% of the students are exposed to tobacco smoke by their relatives. Conclusion: Students with low academic performance and peer tobacco use seem to be more susceptible. Information about health and deleterious tobacco effects seem to protect adolescents from smoking. Parents’ behaviours and habits have an important impact in their children’s smoking behaviour. The majority of the students are second hand smokers. Further prevention programmes should include families and consider students’ social environment.

Palavras-chave : smoking; adolescents; prevalence; Portugal.

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