[Smoker teenahers in colleges of Zaghouan]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate of smoker adolescents in Zaghouan, to seek for the smoking reasons, the used arguments, recording to them, to stop, and show their knowledge about prevention. A prospective study included 266 teenagers scolarised: 194 boys and 72 girls [aged from 12 to 16 years] from 3 colleges located in Zaghouan during 2006. A questionnaire was drawn up on these adolescents. It contains three parts: tabagic habits of smoking teenagers, the reasons of smoking and information about prevention. Twenty six percents of students are smokers, this percentage increases with the scholar level. They have parents' authorization in 18%of cases and have at least one smoker in their environment in 74%of cases. From whose who have tried tobacco, 65%became smokers. The most invoked causes are calming character of cigarettes and the pleasure to smoke. The first cigarette is smoked just for curiosity. The middle age of smoking initiation is 12 years. Twenty three percents of smoking students have tried to stop. The reasons are the dangerous character for health and the cost of tobacco. Adolescents prefer to use shocking pictures to self-sensitize [66%]. Some pupils suggest calling smoker persons who are victims of tobacco to talk about their experiences. Adolescents' smoking is a Public Health priority in Tunisia. The rate of smoking. its cost and its bad health risks encourage us to make preventions, especially the education and information for children and help adolescents to stop smoking

[Protective effect of breast-feeding in childhood obesity]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of obesity in children scolarised in Zaghouan, and to show the protective effect of breast feeding. A retrospective study, included 162 children [aged 2 to 6 years], from 3 kindergartens situated in Zaghouan, during 2006. A questionnaire was drawn up, filled out by parents, concerning the breast feeding, the duration, the family antecedents of obesity, and the nutritional practices. Obesity is defined by a Body Mass Index [BMI] >/= 97 centile referring to curve of the centiles of BMI for the age [Rolland Cachera]. 86% of children were breast fed. 85 children [52%] were nursed by breast exclusively 6 months or over [A group]. 54 [34%] are exclusively breast-fed lower than 6 months [B group]. 23 [14%] were never breast fed [group C]. An overweight was found in 20 children [12%]. This overweight is noted respectively in 8%, 9% and 8/23 in the groups A, B and C. Our results showed that there is a statistically significant relation between the BMI and the breast feeding [P< 10 -8]. Breast feeding has probably a protective effect against obesity of the child [Odds Ratio = 0,17]. Promotion of the breast-feeding and information on its methods and its control are a public health priority, it protects the child and his mother from certain diseases and prevents from childhood obesity. OMS recommends an exclusive breast feeding until the 6 months age, and to continue if possible until the 2 years