The use of cigarettes, hookahs, electronic cigarettes, and other tobacco indicators among Brazilian schoolchildren: data from National School Health Survey 2019

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of smoking indicators among Brazilian students according to sociodemographic characteristics in 2019, and compare the prevalence between 2015 and 2019. Methods: Data from the National Survey of School Health 2015 and 2019 were used. Indicators related to tobacco use were analyzed. Indicators were compared between the 2015 and 2019 editions. Prevalence and respective 95% Confidence Interval (95%IC) were calculated for the total population and according to sex, age group and type of school. Results: 22.6% (95%CI 21.7–23.4) of the students had tried any cigarette and it was higher between 16 and 17 years of age (32.6%; 95% CI 31.4–33, 8) and in males (35.0%; 95%CI 33.6–36.4). The experimentation of hookah, electronic cigarette and other tobacco products are also high, with 26.9% (95%CI 26.0–27.8), 16.8% (95%CI 16.2–17.4) and 9.3% (95%CI 8.8–9.8), respectively, being higher among boys aged 16 to 17 years. It is noteworthy that there were no changes in the indicators of cigarette experimentation, smoking for the first time before the age of 13, smoking in the 30 days prior to the survey, and at least one of the smoking parents. Conclusion: Although smoked tobacco indicators are stable between 2015 and 2019, the high prevalence of experimentation with products such as hookah and electronic cigarettes is highlighted, drawing attention to the need for new regulatory measures.