Family and School Predictors of Tobacco Use in Chilean Adolescents Aged 13 - 14: A National Study

Adolescent smoking is a major health care concern which calls for a more in-depth study of the factors affecting this pediatric disease. We aimed to determine the prevalence of tobacco use among Chilean adolescents aged 13 - 14 and its association with family and school factors.

This was a cross-sectional analytical study. Data from the Eleventh Chilean National Study of Drugs in the School Population 2015 were used (n = 11,791). School and family variables of parental control were evaluated and analyzed by the chi-Square test and a multivariate logistic regression model. Data were processed with the STATA V. 14.0 software at the α = 0.05 level of significance.

The prevalence of tobacco use at some time during life was 36% with onset age of 11.4 ± 3.6 years. Girls smoke proportionally more than boys (40.5% and 31.5%, respectively). Parental monitoring decreased use and acted as a protective factor (OR: 0.41, 95%CI: 0.375 - 0.468); likewise for good school performance (OR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.475 - 0.584). In turn, running away from school raises the risk of smoking (OR: 2.34, 95%CI: 2.03 - 2.72).

There is a feminization of cigarette use, and the risk of cigarette smoking increases considerably among adolescents who run away from school. However, parental control and school performance are powerful protective factors against early tobacco use.