Cuéllar ÁJ, Pérez IM, Quintana UM, Castro DN

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 229-241
PDF size: 134.27 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: the smoking habit in adolescents is an essential element in the present assistant work of health professionals.
Objective: to characterize the smoking habit in adolescents from family Doctor’s Office.
Methods: a descriptive, transversal study was carried out in a Doctor’s Office, from “José Ramón León Acosta” policlinic in Santa Clara. From a population of 80 adolescents, a sample of 41 active smokers was taken. Empiric methods were used such as; open interviews, questionsnaires, applying educative and didactive techniques. Individual and family clinical histories were reviewed.
Results: the male sex prevailed, and the 78 % of the adolescents began to smoke between 12 and 15 years old. The most frequent causes why they began o smoke were: relaxation and the presence of at least one of the two parents who smoked, besides, smoker friends. It was shown that children from smoker parents begin to smoke a earlier ages between 12 and 15 years old: The most common way of acquisition of cigarettes was in stores and illegal sellers, way in which the 61 % get their cigarettes.
Conclusions: a high percentage of adolescents began to smoke between 12 and15 years old. The place where they most smoke is at parties and most of them smoke from11 to 20 cigarettes a day, generally for relaxing , being highly influenced by smoker parents and friends who also do it.