Cigarette consumption among students from Cartagena, Colombia: associated family factors

Family factors in adolescents are related to the initiation and experimentation with the consumption of legal or illegal substances, but the influence of the family has been a subject little discussed. Objective: To identify family factors associated with cigarette consumption among students from Cartagena, Colombia. Methodology: A cross sectional study was designed with students in public and private schools. We investigated the demographic characteristics, cigarette consumption during the last month, family history of smokers and family functioning. Family functioning was assessed with the Family a p g a r questionnaire. Results: We surveyed 1014 students aged between 11 and 22 years. 6.9% (70 students) reported smoking at least one cigarette during the last month and 48.4% (491) reported having family dysfunction. The family variables fathers who smoked (OR = 2.40) and sibling smoking (OR = 2.06) showed significant association to smoking. Conclusion: Cigarette consumption among students was associated with having a father and brother smoker. There is no relation to maternal smoking status or other family or with family functioning. In future research should include other variables such as family structure and communication.