The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: This paper aims to estimate impact of environmental factors (policies and information) on smoking initiation and continuation by young people in Ukraine.

Methods: Data of 590 young people aged 15-29 from national representative survey conducted in June 2005 were used. Logistic regression of daily, current, ever smoking and smoking initiation under 15 years was performed on variables of knowledge of tobacco related harm (KTRH), attitudes, exposure to ETS, and smoking regulations. Further association between level of knowledge and various sources of information was studied by means of logistic regression as well.

Results: Males had higher odds of smoking than females. Outdoor tobacco advertising exposure was associated with higher risk of early smoking initiation and ever smoking. Smoking restrictions at workplace or school diminished chances of ever and current smoking. Restrictions of household smoking were associated with lower risk of daily, current and ever smoking. Better KTRH was protective with regard to both early smoking initiation and current smoking status. When sources of KTRH were explored, it became obvious that the level of KTRH is influenced by radio, newspapers and TV, and school-based programs are the most influential source of KTRH for Ukrainian young people. People reporting this source of information were less likely to start smoking, to be current smokers and more likely to quit smoking early. Compared to developed countries, school-based programs can be a more valuable source of information in transition countries, though only about 15% of young people reported access to them.