Smoking behavior and its determinants among women in Concordia, Argentina.

This study assessed smoking, sexual, and reproductive behaviors as determinants of smoking behavior in women from Concordia, Province of Entre Ríos, Argentina, a population with a low incidence of lung cancer and a high incidence of cervical cancer. Interviewers administered structured, close-ended questionnaires to 1,028 women, aged at least 15 years, living in a random sample of households. We calculated the prevalence of smoking-related variables by age group and used a multivariate logistic regression model to identify various behavioral determinants of smoking. Overall, 36% of the women reported having ever smoked, and 23% were current smokers. At least 50% of the women who ever smoked in each age group smoked less than 10 cigarettes per day. The main determinants of ever having smoked were single marital status (OR=1.64, 95% CI=1.01-2.66) and reporting two or more lifetime sexual partners (two or three: OR=2.25, 95% CI=1.63-3.07; four: OR=3.54, 95% CI=2.10-5.08). No association with socioeconomic level, reproductive characteristics, or variables related to health behavior was observed. We conclude that the prevalence of smoking was high, particularly among women aged 35-54 years, and was strongly associated with sexual behavior. Although women seem to be starting to smoke at younger ages compared with women in the past, the younger cohorts do not seem to be taking up the practice to the same extent as the older cohorts. Antismoking interventions and appropriate control measures are still necessary.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection among women in Concordia, Argentina: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Preparing for HPV vaccine programs, studies are needed of HPV infection in different populations. GOAL: The goal was to evaluate HPV prevalence and determinants in Concordia, Argentina. STUDY DESIGN: A stratified random sample of 1786 households was obtained. Consenting women aged > or =15 years were interviewed and underwent examination, including colposcopy. Cells were collected for a Papanicolaou smear and HPV DNA testing with GP5+/6+ primer-mediated PCR-EIA. RESULTS: PCR was performed on specimens from 987 women. Prevalence among women reporting no previous sexual activity was 3%, and among sexually active women it was 17.7%, peaking at <25 years of age and decreasing to a minimum at > or =65 years of age. However, low-risk types had similar prevalence (approximately 5%) in all age groups. HPV16 (4.0%), HPV35 (2.6%), and other high-risk types were the most common. Almost half of infections were multiple. Younger women initiated sexual activity earlier and had more partners. The main determinants of HPV detection were lifetime number of sex partners and vaginal discharge. CONCLUSION: A clear pattern of decreasing prevalence of HPV with age was observed. This could be explained by development of immunity against specific types over time or related to a cohort effect associated with a recent spread of HPV in this population after recent changes in sexual behavior.