Context of the beginning of tobacco use in different social groups

Objective

analyze contextual aspects of the beginning of tobacco use in differentsocial groups, from everyday representations about the act of smoking.

Methods

five focus groups were conducted to promote discussion about the context ofbeginning of tobacco use, with groups of people who represented differentpatterns of social reproduction. The data analysis was based on the theoryof social representations, which contextualizes how each group presents thetobacco consumption.

Results

the contexts of the beginning of tobacco use were diverse, according topatterns of social reproduction; there were common representations to allgroups, but there were also unique representations of each social group.Tobacco is represented as indispensable for groups in unstable socialreproduction situations, and as an instrument of pleasure and stress relieffor those who can access other material assets.

Conclusions

the study contributed to exposing the concepts on tobacco consumption thatare socially disseminated, which can serve as an instrument to planningprograms and health actions.