Tobacco product usage among the adolescent / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

ABSTRACT

BackgroundTobacco use is responsible for a considerable number of morbidity and mortality in the World. It isconsidered to be one of the main preventable risk factors of non-communicable diseases. The tobaccosmoke contains more than 4000 substances that are harmful to health, and at least 43 of them arecarcinogenic. Globally, there are 1.3 billion smokers and nearly 5 million persons die every year fromtobacco-related illness. Based on current smoking trends, tobacco will soon become the leading causeof death worldwide. Most people begin using tobacco before the age of 18 years. Recent trends nowindicate earlier age of initiation and increasing prevalence of smoking among children and adolescents.In recent years the number of teenagers and women who smoke has grown significantly, with an averageage of initiation of 16 years.MethodsSurvey uses a global standardized methodology that includes a two-stage sample design with schoolsselected proportional to enrollment size. The classrooms within selected schools are chosen randomlyand all students in selected classes are invited to participate in the survey. The survey uses a standardglobal core questionnaire with a set of optional questions that permits adaptation to meet the needsof the country on tobacco use and key tobacco control indicators. A total of 7,298 eligible students ingrades 7-10 completed the survey, of which 6,178 were aged 13-15 years. The overall response rate ofall students surveyed was 92.3%.ResultsA total of 7298 students were covered in the survey. Amongst surveyed schoolchildren, 77.5% werestudents in grades 8-9 and 53.3% were females. 14.3% [95%CI 4.7-6.7] of surveyed students (n=5775)currently used any tobacco product. Male students were as twice as more likely than female studentsto smoke daily [20.3%, 95%CI 17.6-23.4 vs. 8.3%, 95%CI 6.9-10.1]. 15.6% of students were havingever smoked cigarettes. Among those who have ever smoked, 8.6 percent reported to have first triedcigarette smoking before the age of 10-11 years. Male students were more likely to have earlier triedsmoking than female students (р>0.001). The percentage of students who currently use any tobaccoproduct is increased with the student’s age and it was the highest among students aged 15 years oldat 17.8% [95%CI 15.2-20.8]. 28.6% of all surveyed students, 28.8% of male students and 31.8% offemale students smoked less than one cigarette per day. 37.4% of students smoked one cigarette perday, 25.5% smoked 2-5 cigarettes per day, 3.5% 6-10 cigarettes per day, 1.0% 11-20 cigarettes perday, and 3.9% smoked 20 or more cigarettes per day. 88.6% of those who tried to stop smoking did itbecause they wanted to be healthy. Of the current smokers, 84.3% think that they can stop smoking ifthey wanted to and most of the current smokers never received help or advice when trying to quit stopsmoking.Conclusion:The survey findings would serve as a baseline information database for undertaking a comparativeanalysis of tobacco smoking across the regions of the country; for evaluating of interventions and activitiesfor prevention and control of smoking related diseases; for establishing of surveillance system anddatabase on tobacco smoking; and for implementing of evidence based public health interventions anddecision making. Students had tried to stop smoking and wanted to quit smoking, however, programs,organizations and professionals who can help them to quit smoking are in shortage.