[Smoking by the 11-16 years old in the Yvelines department in 1990]. / Le tabagisme des jeunes de 11-16 ans dans le département des Yvelines en 1990.

Smoking and its risk factors were studied in 1990 on a representative sample of 2,514 pupils in Yvelines by auto-questionnaire. A similar enquiry had been carried out in 1983 with the same methodology. It was noted that between 1983 and 1990, there was a diminution in the prevalence of smoking from 15.4 to 7.6 per cent in the young in Yvelines. Amongst those young people of French nationality, the prevalence of smoking passed from 16 to 9 per cent in boys and from 17 to 12 per cent in girls aged between 11 and 16. This diminution of prevalence affected both brothers, sisters, and best friends whether male or female. The proportion of youth who had never smoked was significantly increased. In 1990, age and smoking habits of best male or female friend had a relationship which was independent of other factors with smoking in the two sexes. In girls, religious practice and (just within the limits of significance) the attitude of parents, and in boys the absence of one parent from the home, were also linked to smoking habits. The evolution of risk factors was discussed, particularly comparing the two studies of 1983 and 1990. All health education should take account of the phenomenon of "youth groups" as initiation occurs early, health education should be made early, at primary school level.

[Risk factors of smoking in 11-to-16-year-old adolescents]. / Facteurs de risque du tabagisme chez les jeunes de 11 à 16 ans.

The risk factors for smoking have been studied by a self administered questionnaire in 710 boys and 1,233 girls aged 11 to 16 amongst young French school children in the department of Yvelines. The percentage of smokers in this age group was estimated at 15.4%. Comparison of smokers (7.1 cigarettes per day on average) and non-smokers shows an association between smoking in boys and or/girls and the age of the subject, smoking habits of parents, brothers, sisters, members of the family or best friends, socioeconomic status of the parents, one parent families, attitudes and attention of the parents, religious observance, type and area of the school and authorization of smoking in the school yards. Assessed independently the only relationships to tobacco smoking actually were age, smoking habits of best friends, parents, brothers and sisters, and in girls only (for whom the sample size was larger) type and area of the school and one parent families. These results suggest that interventions that are aimed at decreasing smoking amongst the young, should take into account not just individuals, but the young as a group and the familial environment.