Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110453

Yelena Bird, MD, MPH, Larry K. Olsen, Dr PH, CHES, and John Moraros, MD, MPH. College of Health and Social Services, New Mexico State University, 1335 International Mall, PO Box 30001, Office of the Dean, MSC 3446, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, 505 646 6058, yelenabird@yahoo.com

Background: Student exposure to ETS in Juarez, Mexico is unknown. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions and exposure to ETS of sixth grade students (n=506). Methods: The Spanish GYTS was administered in 6 randomly selected public and private middle schools in Juárez, Mexico. Results: About 38% of the participants indicated parental smoking. Students in low SES schools were significantly more likely to be smokers, not to support public smoking bans, and to be exposed more to ETS than students who attended either a middle or high SES school. Smokers who attended a middle SES public school and indicated in the last 7 days others smoked in their presence, didn't favor a ban on smoking in public places and were exposed to significantly higher levels of ETS than students who did not possess these characteristics. Two hundred sixty students reported that within the last 7 days they had frequented a public place where smoking was present. Male smokers, who attended a middle SES public school, did not favor a ban on smoking in public places and were significantly more likely to indicate they frequented a public place where smoking was present (p=0.00) than did other students. Most participants (79.1%) felt smoking should be banned from public places, but students attending school in a middle SES setting (p = 0.04) were least likely to support such a ban. Conclusion: Smoking behavior and exposure to ETS are related to gender, SES, school setting, and parental smoking behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the magnitude of ETS exposure of 6th grade students in Juarez, Mexico.
• Explain how socioeconomic status and gender may affect 6th grade student exposure to ETS in Juarez, Mexico.
• Describe the differences in perception of 6th grade student smokers versus non-smokers related to development of non-smoking policies in Juarez, Mexico.

Keywords: Environmental Exposures, Tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.