Prevalencia de consumo de tabaco no inhalado (chimó) en el municipio Miranda del estado Mérida, Venezuela: asociación con ansiedad y estrés

objectives: to estimate the prevalence of used smokeless tobacco (chimó) in miranda township, mérida state, venezuela, and his association with anxiety and stress. methods: a cross-sectional health survey township representative randomized sample of population was done. there were included all subjects of 10 years or older. standard questionnaire was applied, and anxiety and depression scale of zigmond and snaith, social stratum scales graffar - méndez castellano, stress questionnaire of interheart study. results: there were included 100 subjects (50 men - 50 women), average of age 34.1 years (ed ± 14.4). mostly mix race (96%) and social stratum iii - iv (96%). smokeless tobacco prevalence was 38% (men 58% - women 18%, p< 0.0001), increased with age (10 - 20 years old 13%; 21 - 34 years old 40%; 35 - 48 years old 44.8%; 49 years and older 55.5%; p= 0.029). prevalence smokeless tobacco were associated with anxiety (p=0.039) and depression (p=0.023) symptoms, and number stress events (p=0.016). when calculating the or, chimó consumption in females increased 10 times the chance of developing symptoms of anxiety and 15 times the symptoms of depression. conclusion: there are highest prevalence smokeless tobacco (chimó) products in miranda township from mérida state, venezuela.