SS 16.00-17.30 Special sessions
PREVALENCE AND CONCURRENT PREDICTORS OF EARLY SMOKING AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCHILDREN IN MULTIETHNIC, LOW-INCOME, INNER-CITY NEIGHBOURHOODS
- AUTHORS: J O'Loughlin., L Renaud, G Paradis, G Meshefedjian, X Zhou
- INSTITUTIONS : Department of Public Health, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal (Quebec), Canada
Objectives
The prevalence and concurrent predictors of early smoking were investigated among schoolchildren in grades 4 to 6 living in multiethnic, low-income neighbourhoods in Montreal, Canada.
Methods
As part of the evaluation of a school-based heart health promotion programme, baseline data on the prevalence of early smoking were collected from 2285 students aged 9 to 13 years in 24 inner-city elementary schools in May/June 1993.
Results
Overall 28.6% of boys and 20.2% of girls had smoked. Girls began trying later than boys, but the prevalence of experimental/regular smoking overtook that of boys by age 13. Ever smoked varied considerably by family origin, from 2.1% among Vietnamese girls to 35.8% among Portuguese boys. Smoking habits of friends was the strongest predictor of smoking (odds ratios = 3.6 for boys and 5.8 for girls).
Conclusion
Smoking prevention should begin even younger than age nine in multiethnic, low-income, inner-city neighbourhoods. Because of variability in the smoking onset process, the timing of preventive efforts might have to be tailored to the needs of specific ethnic groups.
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Smoke Free Europe Conference Abstracts - 19 SEP 1996
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