This study was conducted from Apr. 3 to Apr. 13, 2001, covering 565 fifth, and sixth graders in 4 elementary schools, in Daegu, in order to provide basic data for smoking prevention education.
The results of the study were as follows:
Among the students under inquiry, 22.70o answered they had the experience of smoking, while 0.6% said they were current smokers.
With regard to ever smokers smoking behavior, approximately 75% of them smoke one or two cigarettes a day. 31% of them were at their own or friends homes to smoke, but not at specific time. 400o of them got the cigarettes at their homes.
31% of those who ever smoked cigarettes started their smoking at the age of preschooler. Most of them had their first smoking experience at their homes out of curiosity.
Profile of a typical ever smoker would: be male: have hard time to fit in at school. The home environmental profile of an ever smoker consists of: single-parented: has a family where mother smoked.
Regarding the experience of smoking prevention education, 27.4% answered they had the experience of smoking prevention education.
Taking into a consideration of passive smoking, the result was different by gender. Female students more often exposed to passive smoking than did male students, but there is no difference in the attitude toward the exposure to passive smoking in each group. There is a difference in passive smoking to influence on health in each group and there is a difference in the place of exposure to passive smoking in each group.
Based on these study results, I conclude that smoking-prevention education is necessary for elementary school students and preschoolers. Public health efforts to reduce harms from passive smoking to the children exposed should be concentrated on discouraging smoking at homes and public places as well. Legislative or administrative mechanisms are to be effective strategies to harmful effect of passive smoking.
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