Consumo de cigarrillo y riesgo de dependencia de la nicotina de estudiantes de secundaria

Cigarette smoking and the risk of high-school students becoming dependent on nicotine

Objetivo Establecer la prevalencia y los factores asociados con el consumo de cigarrillo y  riesgo de dependencia a la nicotina en adolescentes escolarizados de   Cartagena, Colombia.

Método Se realizó un estudio analítico transversal con una muestra probabilística de 1 152 estudiantes adolescentes de colegios públicos y privados. Los estudiantes diligenciaron en forma individual y anónima un cuestionario que incluía las características sociodemográficas y psicosociales. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables investigadas, posteriormente, todas las variables, cualitativas y cuantitativas, se dicotomizaron y se estimaron razones de disparidad (OR) con intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC95%).

Resultados 1 014 estudiantes completaron satisfactoriamente la encuesta. La edad media fue 15,1 años. 355 (35,0 %) estudiantes habían experimentado con cigarrillo, 70 (6,9 %) informaron fumar habitualmente y 18/70 (25,7 %) mostraron un alto riesgo de dependencia de la nicotina. Las variables que se asociaron con el consumo de cigarrillo fueron: ser estudiante de básica secundaria (OR 4,08; IC95 % 2,27-7,35), mayor de 15 años (OR 3,71; IC95 % 2,85-7,44), tener padre fumador (OR 2,47; IC95 % 1,42-4,31), ser varón (OR 2,37; IC95 % 1,40-4,00) y tener hermano fumador (OR 2,21; IC95 % 1,16-4,21).

Conclusiones La prevalencia de consumo de cigarrillo es baja en estudiantes de bachillerato de Cartagena. La frecuencia de fumadores es mayor en estudiantes de básica secundaria, varones, mayores de quince años y en quienes el padre o el hermano es fumador.

Objective Establishing cigarette smoking prevalence, the factors associated with it and the risk of nicotine dependence in adolescents attending school in Cartagena, Colombia. Method This was a cross-sectional study of a probability sample of 1,152 adolescent students from public and private schools in Cartagena. Students anonymously and individually completed a questionnaire containing sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics. A descriptive analysis was then made of the variables investigated. All qualitative and quantitative variables  were then dichotomised and odds ratios (OR) were estimated with 95 % confidence intervals. Results 1,014 students  successfully completed the survey. Mean age was 15.1 years. 355 (35.0 %) students had experimented with cigarettes, 70 (6.9 %) reported smoking regularly and 18/70 (257 %) presented a high risk of nicotine dependence. The following variables were associated with smoking: being an elementary school student (4.08 OR; 2.27 to 7.35 95 %CI), being over 15 (3.71 OR; 2.85-7.44 95 %CI), having parents who smoked (2.47 OR; 1.42 to 4.31 95 %CI), being male (2.37 OR; 1.40 to 4.00 95 %CI) and having a brother or sister who smoked (2.21 OR; 1.16 to 4.21 95 %CI). Conclusions The prevalence of smoking was low in high-school students from Cartagena. The frequency of smokers was higher amongst basic secondary education students, males older than fifteen and in whom the parents or brothers or sisters were smokers.