The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: to discuss research-to-intervention pathways in the context of an international tobacco control program in the Province of Jujuy, Argentina

Methods: 263 youth 12 to 17 years of age participated in qualitative interviews and focus groups. A three year longitudinal survey of 8th graders was conducted among a representative sample of schools. Implementation of tobacco control interventions is concurrent with ongoing research.

Results: Achievements include: links with government institutions and the civil society, environmental tobacco control interventions; advocacy for policy making; graduate training, international fellowships, and community mobilization. At baseline (N=3703, 13-15 years of age) youth were: 68% Indigenous American, 15% rural residency, 32% working, 14% alcohol drinking in past week, 41% feeling depressed; 25% of caregivers unemployed and 40% with primary education or less. Among the total sample 50% of youth were ever-smokers, 21% current smokers (smoked in past 30 days) and 1.2% regular smokers (20 of past 30 days), with no significant differences between boys and girls. Youth who self-identified as Indigenous Amazonic had higher prevalence of ever smoking (60%) and current smoking (34%) compared with those who self-identified as European, 49% and 12% respectively, even after adjusting for demographic and psychosocial variables. Quantitative data defines a profile of youth-groups with different risk factors and in different stages of the smoking trajectory. Qualitative data provided insights on youth's family and personal stressors. Both data sources inform the development of prevention interventions tailored to high-risk youth groups who are less likely to be influenced by environmental tobacco control policies.