Abstract

TAFUR, Luis Alberto et al. Smoking in the Universidad Santiago de Cali. Colomb. Med. [online]. 2005, vol.36, n.3, pp.194-198. ISSN 1657-9534.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and characteristics of the smoking habit in the people of the USC, including teachers, administrative staff and students enrolled in the first semester of the year 2003. METHODS: This transversal study was developed in the USC at the Pampalinda campus and included a self responded questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to classify the group in non smokers or smokers, which could be habitual or sporadic smokers. RESULTS: The questionnaire was fulfilled by 1998 (73.8 %) out of 2705 people with criteria to be included in our study. There was a group of 14.8 % smokers and 13% of ex smokers. A significant statistical difference was found comparing the habit between men and women (23.8 vs. 8.3% respectively) (OR=2.14, IC: 1.67-2.73). According with age, those younger than 17 years old had the lowest prevalence, overall in the group of health students. The highest proportion of smokers was found in the group of 30-34 years old. The administrative staff and the group of teachers from no health schools had a higher proportion than the rest of our population studied. This group of teachers had the highest proportion of habitual smokers, with a significant statistical difference (11.2% vs. 3.2%) (OR=3.73 IC: 1.84-7.66). DISCUSSION: This research shows lower prevalences from other studies developed in the same region. By age, sex and study groups the prevalence was lower; it could suggest a bias of no answer.

Keywords : Tabaquism; Prevalence; Bias.

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