PARENTAL SMOKING AND CARRIAGE OF NEISSERIA-MENINGITIDIS AMONG GREEK SCHOOLCHILDREN

In December 1990 and January 1991, primary (320) and secondary (697) p upils in 2 areas of Athens were screened to determine the rate of carr iage of Neisseria meningitidis and to determine if the genetic and env ironmental factors associated with carriage of meningococci in Greece were similar to those observed for northern European populations. In 1 area, socioeconomic: indicators were significantly lower than in the other (p < 0.0005), but the isolation rates from pupils in the areas w ere similar, 5.3% and 6.3%. In contrast to studies in northwest Europe , carriage was not associated with lower socioeconomic conditions, sex , numbers of individuals per household, upper respiratory tract infect ion, or secretor status. By univariate analysis, carriage was associat ed with age (15-18 years) (p < 0.05) and mother's or other carer's smo king habits (p < 0.05) - but not father's smoking. Although the propor tion of fathers who smoked was greater in the area where socioeconomic indicators were lower (61%) vs. (47%) (p < 0.0005), the proportions o f women smokers were similar (33% vs. 38%). By multiple regression ana lysis, the only significant factors were age (p < 0.01) and carer's sm oking (p < 0.05).