Epidemiological survey on smoking habit among young students in Sardinia. A cross sectional study

The study reports the prevalence of cigarette smoking among 11401 high school Sardinian students. The prevalence of smokers (40.2%) significantly differs between gender (41.1% males and 38.4% females). Males have an early initiation of smoking with an evident addictive effect by age. 54.3% are daily smokers and 21.4% smoke 15 or more cigarettes per day. More than 50% smoke to look grown-up and to be accepted by the group. Besides age (OR=1.10; 95%CI: 1.06-1.15), other factors are associated with smoke: low education level of father (OR=1.08; 95%CI: 1.02-1.15), no maternal support (OR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.17-2.54), to have at least one smoker cohabitant (OR=1.66; 95%CI: 1.54-1.80) and alcohol drinking (OR=3.46; 95%CI: 3.04-3.93). The smokers' knowledge on smoke topics significantly differ from non smokers. Our results suggest the need of community preventive interventions, diversified for specific target populations, to modify the students' behaviours so that they respect their own health and that of their fellow citizens.