A national survey of cigarette smoking in fourth-form school children in New Zealand

Abstract

Aims: To determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking in 14 and 15 year old school children in New Zealand and to examine associated risk factors.

Methods: Nationwide cross-sectional survey of fourth-form school children in New Zealand by means of an anonymous self administered questionnaire in November 1992.

Results: Questionnaires from 14,097 fourteen and fifteen year-olds were analysed. 65.6% had tried smoking, and 36.1% regarded themselves as smokers. Females and Maori had significantly higher prevalence rates. Of Maori females 44.6% were current smokers (more than one per month) compared to 24.0% for the whole group, and 33.0% were daily smokers. Pacific Island students, who have similar socioeconomic disadvantage to Maori, have a lower relative risk of smoking (RR) 0.79, (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68, 0.91), than Europeans. Major independent risk factors were identified and population attributable risk was calculated for parental smoking (22.9%), poor knowledge of adverse health effects (7.3%) and watching televised sports (13.4%). These three modifiable factors accounted for 36.1% of the total smoking prevalence in these children.

Conclusion: The continued high prevalence of smoking in New Zealand children, especially in Maori and in females, prove current public health measures to be inadequate. Our results suggest that strategies aimed at decreasing parental smoking, improving student knowledge of adverse health effects and preventing tobacco sponsorship of television sports could greatly decrease the smoking prevalence in this age group.