Prevalência e características do tabagismo em jovens da Universidade de Brasília

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of smoking and to describe the profile and smoking habits of students attending the Universidade de Brasília (University of Brasília) in Brasília, Brazil. Methods: A total of 1341 students responded to a smoking questionnaire, adapted from the World Health Organization questionnaire, including questions directed at smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers. Twenty different courses in the areas of health, exact sciences and human sciences were evaluated. The students included in the study were duly enrolled in day courses and were evaluated during the second semester of 2003. Results: The overall prevalence of smoking was 14.7%. Approximately 80.8% of the students were nonsmokers, and 4.5% were former smokers. In the study sample, 57.3% of the students were male. No significant difference (p > 0.05) in the prevalence of smoking was observed in terms of gender or class year. The mean age of the study population was 21.6 ± 3.6 years, and the mean age at which the smoking habit was acquired was 17 ± 2.8 years. The percentage of smokers was higher in the Geology, Communication, and History courses (32.9, 26.3 and 24.4%, respectively). Mean consumption was 7.5 cigarettes per day. The majority (72.6%) of the students used commercial cigarettes rather than other types of tobacco. Conclusion: The high prevalence of smoking observed in the present study is similar to that reported for other universities and indicates the need for smoking control policies in university environments.

Smoking, alcohol consumption and oral cancer among healthcare academics

“…One study that evaluated the use of tobacco and associated factors among students found a strong statistical link between the use of tobacco, drinking and illicit drugs 11 , however, this practice is not just associated with a university lifestyle, as the average starting age is far lower than the age of entrance to university 11,15 .…”

Uso do tabaco entre estudantes de enfermagem de uma faculdade privada

“…O resultado mencionado acima se assemelha ao resultado do estudo desenvolvido com universitários na Universidade de Brasília (UnB) (19) , onde a maioria (57,6%) teve como principal motivo a curiosidade e desejo de fumar, seguido de 23,2% que afirmou ser por causa extrafamiliar.…”

“…Resultado semelhante ao encontrado no estudo desenvolvido na Uerj (14) , onde a maioria dos alunos investigados começou a fumar na faixa etária dos 16 aos 20 anos. E, nos estudos com acadêmicos de medicina da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel) (21) , e com universitários da UnB, detectaram-se prevalência de idade de início de 15 a 19 anos (19) .…”

A prevalência do tabagismo entre estudantes da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso – Campus Universitário de Rondonópolis

“…Ribeiro et al (1999) verificaram que 8,6% dos alunos da Universidade Federal de São Paulo fumavam regularmente. No estudo de Andrade et al (2006), a prevalência de fumantes foi de 14,7%; 80,8% dos alunos não eram fumantes e 4,5% foram classificados como ex-fumantes. Stramari, Kurtze e Silva (2009) pesquisaram a prevalência de tabagismo entre os acadêmicos de medicina de uma universidade de Passo Fundo (RS).…”