Changes in tobacco use and related factors in Junior High School students, Lara State, Venezuela, 2000-2003

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) is a school-based surveillance system. In Lara State, Venezuela, it was conducted by a coalition of organizations. The instrument includes: attitudes, knowledge, behaviors, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, mass media, and marketing. Participation was 85.7% in 2000 and 79.3% in 2003. Comparing prevalence (%) from 2000 to 2003: "first contact": unchanged (22.8%); "males having first cigarette before the age of 10": decreased (21.5% to 16.7%); "current cigarette smoker": unchanged (8.4% to 8.3%); "male smokers wanted to quit": increased (62.6% to 84.7%); "exposure to environmental tobacco smoke": increased (43.9% a 50.7%), "support ban on smoking in public places": unchanged (> 80%), "received free promotional cigarettes": increased (9.5% a 13.4%), and "no problem buying cigarettes": decreased in males (97% to 74.3%) and in females (95.9% to 90.3%). Tobacco use has remained unchanged, a situation attributed in part to marketing, including free cigarettes, and lack of law enforcement. GYTS provides evidence to support the design, implementation, and monitoring of policies and programs aimed at the prevention and control of tobacco use among adolescents.