Tobacco consumption by health students

Abstract

According to the Pan American Health Organization, smoking is a public health problem that is among the main causes of death, disease and impoverishment in the world, with more than 7 million deaths/year in direct consumption and more than 1 million of deaths due to exposure to the chemical agent.(1)  The theme called attention, because within the academic community, it is no different from the rest of the world, even when it comes to health students, due to the fact, some questions arose with regarding consumption, for which reason a survey was carried out at UNIDA (Universidad de la Integración de las Américas) – CDE Subsidiary, in which 347 students responded to the form, which contained questions related to smoking. The results showed that, in relation to age, the majority of those surveyed never smoked, however, the result continues with a high prevalence of 40.06%.

It should be noted that the determining factors that led students to start smoking cigarettes were curiosity 13.84% equally as many men as women and 10.38% do it for fun, 5.77% mention stress, and 3.46% due to the influence of friends. As is also observed, the type of cigarette that is most consumed is Electronic Cigarettes with a total of 79, of which 36 were women and 43 men, totaling 17%, secondly, the type of cigarette that is most consumed is finds Traditional cigarettes being a total of 6.06% of which 2.31% women, 3.75% were men.

Most of the participants, 40.06%, smoke, of which 20% mentioned that they have tried to quit smoking, but at the same time it is very difficult for them, even though they are aware of the consequences that it can cause in your health,

40% of tobacco-related deaths are due to lung diseases such as cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and tuberculosis (2). WHO calls on countries and partners to intensify measures to protect people from tobacco exposure (3).