TOBACCO CONSUMPTION AMONG THE ACTIVE INSU RED POPULATION OF THE MEXICAN SOCIAL-SECURITY INSTITUTE

Objective. To determine the prevalence of tobacco consumption among th e active insured population of the Mexican Social Security Institute. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study in which the active insu red population from the 36 political delegations was interviewed by me ans of a structured and self-applicable questionnaire on tobacco consu mption, age of initiation, amount of cigarettes consumed and suspensio n. Results. The sample consisted of 45 117 subjects, of which approxim ately half were men and half women. Smoking prevalence in men was 40% and in women, 17.6%. Prevalence was highest in the north of the countr y. There is an effect of age on tobacco consumption and more than half started smoking during adolescence. Conclusions. Smoking prevalence w as found to be high, however, the average number of cigarettes is low. Suspension index is low. Public health measures are necessary to dimi nish this addiction.