OBJECTIVE: To evaluate risk factors for tobacco use in high school students of two schools of the city of Santo Andre (São Paulo, Brazil) in 2005, as well as to describe the profile of the adolescent who uses tobacco. METHODS: Cross sectional study that applied a standardized anonimous self-answered questionnaire in adolescents of both genders registered in the first year of a public and a private high school of the city of Santo André (Brazil). The following variables were collected: age, gender, race, practice of sports, religion and habits of the family/adolescent. "Tobacco trier" was defined as those who tried cigarette and did not continue with smoking habits, excluding those who inhaled illicit drugs. Statistical analysis applied chi-square test and logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 226 (90%) questionnaires were answered: 137 (61%) in the private and 89 (39%) in the public school. Among the adolescents, 54 (24%) used tobacco (35 - private school and 19% - public school). Significant variables associated with tobacco use in the private school were: maternal smoking (OR 12.44; 95%CI 4.10-37.79) and friends who are smokers (OR 9.58; 95%CI 3.10-29.98). In the public school, the risk factors for smoking were: alcoholic beverage use (OR 8.78; 95%CI 1.92-40.06), smoking among friends (OR 7.90; CI95%: 1.99-31.29) and contact with cigarette smoke (OR 6.40; 95%CI 1.56-26.22). CONCLUSIONS: A significant influence of social and family environment was observed regarding the use of tobacco by adolescents.
adolescent; adolescent behavior; smoking; tobacco
