Use of alternative tobacco products in multiethnic youth from Jujuy, Argentina

Abstract

This study examines alternative tobacco use among Latin American youth. A self-administered survey in a random sample of 27 schools was administered in 2004 in Jujuy, Argentina (N = 3218). Prevalence of alternative tobacco product use was 24.1; 15.3 of youth used hand-rolled cigarettes, 7.8 smoked cigars, 2.3 chewed tobacco leaf and 1.6% smoked pipe. Among youth who never smoked manufactured cigarettes, alternative product use was rare (2.9), except for chewing tobacco (22). In multivariate logistic regression boys were more likely than girls to smoke pipe (OR=3.1; 95 CI 1.1-8.7); indigenous language was associated with smoking hand-rolled cigarettes (OR=1.4; 95 CI-1.1-1.9) and pipe (OR=2.2; 95 CI 1.5-3.4). Working in tobacco sales was a risk factor for chewing tobacco (OR=2.9; 95 CI: 1.7-4.9) and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes (OR=1.4; 95 CI 1.1-1.8). Having friends who smoked was associated with chewing tobacco (OR=1.8; 95 CI 1.0-3.2) and with smoking cigars (OR=2.1; 95 CI 1.5-2.9). Current drinking and thrill-seeking orientation were associated with cigars and pipe smoking. Findings highlight the importance of surveillance of alternative tobacco products use and availability among youth and for addressing identified risk factors. Copyright © 2010 Ethel Alderete et al.