The epidemic of smoking among urban students in China

Objective To describe the prevalence of smoking among urban students in China. Methods Adolescent Behavioral Risk Factor Survey was conducted in 18 provinces in China in the year of 2004-2005. The cities in each province were classified into three groups according to social-economic status, and one city from each group was selected as study field. A two-stage cluster sampling method was used in each city to produce a representative sample of students in junior middle school, senior middle school and college school. A self-administerd questionnair were completed by 213 353 students (male, 103 483; female, 109 770). Result In all, 33.1 percent of students had ever tried cigarette smoking, 13.3 percent of students had smoked cigarettes at least one day within 30 days before the survey, and 2.0 percent of students had smoked more than 5 cigarettes each day within the 30 days before the survey. Nationwide, 16.6 % students started their smoking before 13 years of age. The prevalence of smoking is higher among male students than among female students. Thc students from college, vocational school, and recomposed families arc more likely to smoke than other students. Conclusion In China, smoking is more common and severer among male students than female students, and is increasing among female students. The starting age of smoking is becoming younger.