Smoking among students and works at School of Public Health/USP

Abstract

This study evaluates the effects of a prevention program in smoking behavior. Two surveys about tobacco use among students and staff members of the School of Public Health of University of São Paulo who attended in the openning classes of the 1980 and 1995 academic years. In 1980 a total of 177 people were present (38,4% men) and in 1995 a total of 128 (29,7% men). From 1980 to 1995 the proportion of regular smokers fell from 56,9% to 26,3% in males and from 45,9% to 22,2% in females. Findings indicate that there was a higher decrease in the prevalence of regular smoking for younger subjects. Highly motivated to stop smoking were professionals of biosciences background, followed by social sciences and education. Less motivated were subjects of law background, who showed an increase in the prevalence of smoking. Most subjects informed that they have started smoking at the age group of 10 to 14 years, and that they were aware of the damage of tabacco smoking to health. The means considered as the most adequate for the divulgation dangers of the tobacco were TV and radio. More effective programs against smoking should be implemented in the schools of public health, in order to promote the decrease the number of smokers among their students and employees.