Abstract
The aim of the study is to investigate the determinants of exposure to ETS among Greek adolescents aged 11–17 years old. The GYTS questionnaire was completed by 5,179 adolescents. About 3 in 4 responders (76.8%) were exposed to ETS at home, and 38.5% were exposed to ETS outside of the home. Gender, age group, parental and close friends smoking status were significant determinants of adolescent’s exposure to ETS. The results of the study could be valuable for the implementation of public health initiatives in Greece aiming to reduce the burden of adolescent’s exposure to passive smoking.
Highlights
Tobacco use is a significant preventable cause of disability, and premature death at a worldwide level
Compared to participants aged 11−13 years, those aged 15 years or older were more likely to be exposed to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) at home (OR = 1.54; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [1.27, 1.86] for participants aged 15 years and Odds Ratios (OR) = 1.37; 95% CI [1.00, 2.05] for participants aged 16-17 years) and less likely to be exposed to ETS
Males were less likely to be exposed to ETS at home (OR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.82)
Summary
Tobacco use is a significant preventable cause of disability, and premature death at a worldwide level. Five million persons die annually from tobacco-related illnesses, and many more suffer from smoking-related morbidity. The adverse effects of exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) on health of adolescents are well known and include increased risk for asthma induction and exacerbation, acute lower respiratory tract infections, and effusions of the middle-ear. Exposure to ETS is associated with abnormal levels of lung function, and increased bronchial responsiveness in both adults, and adolescents [2,3,4]. Besides the effects of ETS on health, exposure to ETS could be associated with significant economic costs due to increased health care services utilization [5].
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