Şefika İlknur KÖKÇÜ KARADAĞ, Bahar ATAŞ, Recep SANCAK
Çocuk Dergisi - 2025;25(4):252-257
Background: Smoking remains a significant and preventable public health problem affecting adolescents. This study evaluated the prevalence of conventional (packaged) cigarette use among middle and high school students, identified associated factors, and assessed temporal trends by comparing the findings with those of previous studies conducted in the same region. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 785 students (383 males, 402 females; mean age 15.6+/-1.32 years) selected via stratified random sampling in the Samsun province. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of conventional cigarette use was 3.82% (2.72% in males, 1.10% in females; p<0.05), representing a significant decline compared with rates reported in the same region in 1997 (13.1%) and 2012 (13.0%) (p<0.0005). The mean age at smoking initiation was 13.6+/-1.31 years, with females starting later than males (14.0+/-1.38 vs. 13.2+/-1.62 years; p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, peer smoking was the strongest predictor (beta=0.613), followed by parental smoking (beta=0.286) and sibling smoking (beta=0.144). The primary reasons for initiation were stress/boredom (43.3%) and peer influence (40.0%). Discussion: Conventional cigarette use has decreased markedly; peer and family influences are the principal determinants. E-cigarettes and novel nicotine products were not assessed; future studies should encompass all nicotine products.
