Prevalence of harmful smoking habit among teenagers and young adults

Abstract

Harmful smoking habit — for many years remains a global problem of mankind. The urgency of this problem is due to the fact that smoking is widespread among almost all segments of the population. In addition, smoking has a detrimental effect on the whole human body, the connection of this habit with more than 40 diseases, disability and premature death, which humanity can prevent. Ukraine ranks 17th in the world in terms of cigarette consumption. More than 500,000 young people join this bad habit every year. In recent decades, in addition to traditional cigarettes, alternative types of smoking have become popular, especially among adolescents and young people, namely electronic cigarettes (E;cigarettes, vapes), tobacco heating devices (IQOSs), and in some cases — products with reduced tobac; co content (snuff, chewing tobacco, etc.). In addition, hookah remains fashionable and sometimes prestigious among young people, which also has a detrimental effect on the human body.

Purpose — to determine the prevalence of harmful smoking habits among adolescents and young people.

Materials and methods. To achieve this goal, a survey was conducted using a specially designed questionnaire of 136 adolescents and young people aged 15 to 24 in confidential conditions. The questionnaire included 16 questions related to identifying the fact of having a bad smoking habit; type, onset and duration of smoking; motivation to start and quit smoking; awareness of the harmful effects of smoking on health; complaints from the oral cavity related to the presence of a bad habit etc.

Results. The results of the study showed that this bad habit occurs both among adolescents and adolescents. Among all respondents, 32.4±1.5% identified them; selves as daily smokers. It was found that the prevalence of smoking increases with age of the respondents. Thus, the prevalence of smoking among adolescents was 26.3±1.8%, while among adolescents this figure increases and is — 38.5±2.4%. Among the respondents, most smokers indicated that they smoke cigarette traditions — 49.7±1.9%, the use of modern (alternative) types of smoking indicated 41.9±2.2%, and 8.4±0.6% of smokers hookah. The mean age of onset of smoking was 13.2±0.5 years, which is a negative factor influencing the formation of the health of this contingent.

Conclusions. The data obtained indicate the need to strengthen preventive measures to prevent adolescents and young people from becoming smokers, as well as to develop effective programs to help quit smoking. The results are the basis for planning preventive measures to maintain and promote health.

The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of all participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies.

No conflict of interest was declared by the author.