The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: To monitor smoking prevalence among students and evaluate the tobacco control measures implemented, the Brazilian Health Ministry started to monitor tobacco use among students in 2002. This surveillance is being carried by the Brazilian National Cancer Institute and State Health Departments, in partnership with PAHO/ WHO and CDC, as part of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS). The present study shows the results of GYTS-Brazil for 14 cities reggarding access to cigarettes.

Methods: A school-based survey among students of 7th and 8th grade and 1st year high school was conducted. A two-stage sampling design was employed to obtain a representative sample. First stage were schools and second, classes. Number of classes varied by school (between 1 and 5 classes depending on school enrollment). Students answered to a standard anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Sampling and data consolidation was conducted by CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/global/gyts/GYTS_intro.htm#Methodology). Prevalence was estimated using Epi-Info 2002.

Results: A total of 339 schools and 19,217 students participated in the survey. Between 14.4% (Curitiba) to 32.8% (Palmas) of smokers usually smoke at home and 16.6% (Boa Vista) and 41.3% (Curitiba) reported smoking at public places. The percentage of smokers buying cigarettes in a store varied from 26.8% (also Boa Vista) to 55.8% (Goiania). Depending on the city, 6 out 10 to almost 9 out 10 students who bought cigarettes in a store were NOT refused purchase because of their age.