Tobacco use among high school students in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Objectives. This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of tobacco us e among high school students in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods. Anonymous, self-administered questionnaires were given to 3909 8th and 11 th graders in a stratified random sample of 49 public and private s chools. The instrument included items from American surveys, translated and validated among Argentinean teens, Multiple logistic regression analysis w as used to estimate possible effects on smoking behavior of environment, st udents' personal characteristics, and their knowledge, beliefs, and attitud es regarding smoking. Results. Of 8th and 11th graders, 20% and 43%, respectively, were classifie d as current smokers. Overall, 29% of males and 32% of females were current smokers. Students attending public schools were more likely to smoke than those in private schools (P<.05). Current smoking was associated with havin g a best friend who smokes, reporting that more than 50% of friends of the same sex smoke, having positive attitudes and beliefs toward smoking, and h aving a positive intention to smoke within the next year (all P<less than>. 001). Conclusions. Over 20% of the 8th graders in our sample were current smokers ; prevention efforts must therefore start early.