[Smoking of non-cigarette tobacco products by students in three Brazilian cities: should we be worried?]. / Perfil de consumo de outros produtos de tabaco fumado entre estudantes de três cidades brasileiras: há motivo de preocupação?

Smoking of non-cigarette tobacco products is increasing worldwide because of their high social acceptability, misperceptions about their purported harmlessness, and globalization of the tobacco industry. In Brazil, tobacco control experts have recently focused their attention on the importance of monitoring the use of such products. We analyzed data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2009) in three cities. Prevalence rates of non-cigarette tobacco smoking in the previous 30 days among students 13 to 15 years of age were high in Campo Grande (18.3%; 95%CI: 14.4%-22.9%) and São Paulo (22.1%; 95%CI: 19.0%-25.6%), while Vitória showed comparatively lower prevalence (4.3%; 95%CI: 3.1%-5.7%). No statistical differences were observed in prevalence rates according to gender. Water pipes were the most frequent form of non-cigarette tobacco smoking. The decline in cigarette smoking in Brazil in recent years may have contributed to other forms of tobacco smoking, especially among students.

Perfil de consumo de outros produtos de tabaco fumado entre estudantes de três cidades brasileiras: há motivo de preocupação? / Smoking of non-cigarette tobacco products by students in three Brazilian cities: should we be worried?

O consumo de outros produtos de tabaco fumado vem crescendo no mundo pelo fato de serem socialmente aceitos e pela crença generalizada de causarem menos dano à saúde do fumante, ajudados também pela globalização das indústrias do tabaco. Recentemente, no Brasil, os profissionais envolvidos com o controle do tabaco atentaram para a importância de monitorar este consumo. Analisaram-se os dados provenientes do Vigescola conduzido, em 2009, em três cidades. As prevalências de uso de outros produtos de tabaco fumado nos últimos 30 dias entre os escolares de 13 a 15 anos foram elevadas em Campo Grande (18,3 por cento; IC95 por cento: 14,4 por cento-22,9 por cento) e São Paulo (22,1 por cento; IC95 por cento: 19,0 por cento-25,6 por cento). Em Vitória, a prevalência encontrada não foi tão alta quanto às demais (4,3 por cento; IC95 por cento: 3,1 por cento-5,7 por cento). Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas por sexo. Entre os fumantes, o narguilé se destacou por seu alto consumo. É possível que a queda da prevalência de fumantes de cigarro observada nos últimos anos no Brasil tenha favorecido o uso de outros produtos do tabaco como o narguilé, sobretudo entre estudantes.

Smoking of non-cigarette tobacco products is increasing worldwide because of their high social acceptability, misperceptions about their purported harmlessness, and globalization of the tobacco industry. In Brazil, tobacco control experts have recently focused their attention on the importance of monitoring the use of such products. We analyzed data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2009) in three cities. Prevalence rates of non-cigarette tobacco smoking in the previous 30 days among students 13 to 15 years of age were high in Campo Grande (18.3 percent; 95 percentCI: 14.4 percent-22.9 percent) and São Paulo (22.1 percent; 95 percentCI: 19.0 percent-25.6 percent), while Vitória showed comparatively lower prevalence (4.3 percent; 95 percentCI: 3.1 percent-5.7 percent). No statistical differences were observed in prevalence rates according to gender. Water pipes were the most frequent form of non-cigarette tobacco smoking. The decline in cigarette smoking in Brazil in recent years may have contributed to other forms of tobacco smoking, especially among students.

Linking Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) data to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC): the case for Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in Brazil was developed to provide data on youth tobacco use to the National Tobacco Control Program. METHOD: The GYTS uses a standardized methodology for constructing sampling frames, selecting schools and classes, preparing questionnaires, carrying out field procedures, and processing data. The GYTS questionnaire is self-administered and includes questions about: initiation; prevalence; susceptibility; knowledge and attitudes; environmental tobacco smoke; cessation; media and advertising. SUDDAN and Epi-Info Software were used for analysis. Weighted analysis was used in order to obtain percentages and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were carried out between 2002 and 2005 in Brazilian capitals: 2002 (9); 2003 (4); 2004 (2) and 2005 (9). The total number of students was 22832. The prevalence rate among the cities varied from 6.2% (João Pessoa, 2002) to 17.7% (Porto Alegre, 2002). CONCLUSION: The tobacco use prevalence rates in 18 Brazilian cities show significant heterogeneity among the macro regions. Data in this report can be used to evaluate the efforts already done and also as baseline for evaluation of new steps for tobacco control in Brazil regarding the goals of the WHO FCTC.