Smoking in Early Adolescence: Evidence from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study

Purpose To evaluate the prevalence of tobacco use, and factors associated with it, in early adolescent (aged 10–12 years) participants of the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study. Methods Children born in 1993 in Pelotas, Brazil were included in a prospective health study. In 2004–2005, all cohort members were sought. Adolescents and mothers were interviewed. A confidential questionnaire was applied to adolescents, including a section on smoking. Smoking experience was defined as having tried at least one cigarette in life. Results Follow-up rate was 87.5%; 4452 adolescents were interviewed. Mean age was 11.3 years. Only 58 adolescents did not answer the question on smoking experience. Out of the 4394 respondents, 162 (3.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1–4.2) had tried smoking. Of these, approximately half smoked the first cigarette before 10 years of age. Seventy-three cohort members reported smoking daily. In multivariable analysis, variables positively associated with smoking experience were: male gender, maternal smoking during pregnancy, living without the biological father, poor relationship with the mother, being beaten by the parents, family conflict, maternal smoking in 2004–2005, bad influences on the adolescent, participation in fights, history of attempting to run away from home, and experience with alcoholic beverages. The association was negative for socioeconomic level. Conclusion Family-related variables and habits of the adolescent were strongly associated with smoking in early adolescence. Because experimentation with tobacco in adolescence is related to a marked increase in the risk of tobacco addiction in adulthood, early interventions are warranted.