Cigarette smoking among 17–18 year old adolescents – Prevalence and association with sociodemographic, familial, sport, and scholastic factors

Abstract

Background: Though adolescence is recognised as a critical period for smoking prevention, there is a lack of research focused on this issue in Kosovo. The aim of this study has been to examine the gender-specific factors of influence (predictors) for smoking among adolescents in Pristina, Kosovo. Material and Methods: The study sample comprised 1002 adolescents at the age of 17-18 (366 boys, 636 girls), all of whom were in the school's 12th grade. The predictors included sociodemographic variables, familial (i.e., parental) monitoring, parents' educational background, and sport-related factors. The Chi 2 and forward stepwise logistic regression analyses with a dichotomous criterion (smoking vs. non-smoking) were applied. Results: The incidence of smoking was high (31% and 40% smokers, including 7% and 12% daily smokers for girls and boys, respectively). The regression model revealed more frequent absence from school (odds ratio (OR): 1.544; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.063-2.243), more unexcused school absences (OR: 1.360; 95% CI: 1.029-1.796), and frequent parental questioning (OR: 1.530; 95% CI: 1.020-2.295) to be significant predictors of smoking among boys. For girls, a higher risk of smoking was associated with lower scholastic achievement (OR: 1.467; 95% CI: 1.089-1.977), more frequent absence from school (OR: 1.565; 95% CI: 1.137-2.155), increased conflict with parents (OR: 1.979; 95% CI: 1.405-2.789), and a self-declared perception of less parental care (OR: 0.602; 95% CI: 0.377-0.962). Sports were not found to be strongly related to smoking. However, a high risk of daily smoking was found among boys who participated in team sports and subsequently quit. Conclusions: This study reinforces the need for gender-and culture-specific approaches to studying the factors that influence smoking among adolescents. Med Pr 2015;66(2):153-163

An Examination of the Ethnicity-Specific Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Substance Use and Misuse: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Croatian and Bosniak Adolescents in Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…All subjects were in their last year of high school education (i.e., 4th-year high school seniors). The sample was limited to this age group to be objectively comparable with studies conducted to date in the former Yugoslav territories [1,12,22]. Initially, 10 high schools for each Canton were selected by lottery, which resulted in 122 high-school senior classes and theoretical sample of 3676 children.…”

“…Investigations done so far frequently reported gender-specific relationships among different factors of influence on SUM [2,12,22]. For example, parental-variables (i.e., conflict with parents, lower parental monitoring) are indicated as risk factors for alcohol drinking in girls, but not in boys [2].…”

“…In their recent efforts to develop cost-effective and efficient preventive programs combating SUM, public health authorities and academicians from the region place special emphasis on the study of factors that may be related to SUM in adolescence [1,22]. Specifically, the period of adolescence is considered to be crucial in preventing SUM.…”

Sport and scholastic factors in relation to smoking and smoking initiation in older adolescents: a prospective cohort study in Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…[23][24][25] However, when sport participation was analysed more specifically, there were some conflicting findings with the association between sports and cigarette smoking. [26][27][28] For example, in a recent study, authors found that adolescents who had stopped participating in a sport were at high risk of misusing substances, while lower competitive achievement in sports was found to be associated with a higher likelihood of cigarette smoking. 3 5 27 Again, owing to the cross-sectional study design, the causality is not clear.…”

Chromosome aberrations frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes in young tobacco smoking and non-smoking people

“…A study of over 970 adolescents in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 17 to 18 years old, showed that 30% of young men and 32% of young women smoke (38), and some of them started smoking as early as 13 years of age (39). The incidence of smoking is also reported to be high in Croatia (27.4%) (40) and Kosovo (31% for adolescent males and 40% for adolescent women) (41). Although a significant decrease in tobacco consumption has been observed globally from 2002 to 2010, this trend is still lagging behind in Eastern Europe (42).…”