Resumen

SUAREZ LUGO, Nery  y  CAMPOS PUPO, Elizabeth. Prevalence and perception of the smoking risk in the health area cared for by "Dr Jorge Ruíz Ramírez" polyclinics. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2010, vol.36, n.2, pp. 125-131. ISSN 1561-3127.

Introduction The main morbidity and mortality problems existing in the health area cared for by "Dr Jorge Ruiz Ramírez" polyclinics are the diseases associated to smoking as a risk factor. Objectives To characterize the risk prevalence and perception and the causes that encourage and keep smoking as addiction in the 10 years-old and over population cared for by this polyclinics. Methods Cross-sectional descriptive study carried out from January to December 2007. Two-phase cluster sampling and survey as a primary data collection technique were used. Results Smoking prevalence amounted to 38,2%, being higher in 40-49 years-old group, males, individuals with university degree and simple workers. Most of the subjects started smoking before the age of 20 due to the influence exerted by friends; the most repeated cause of keeping the addiction was that they liked smoking. Among these subjects, 93,9% admitted that smoking was a risk, but they did not know the diseases associated to this habit. Conclusions Smoking prevalence is high in the health area cared for by "Dr Jorge Ruíz Ramírez" polyclinics according to the WHO classification. The habit started at early ages and is mainly kept because this population like smoking. Being aware of this situation and of the risk perception in the study population will allow the health authorities to have suitable information to outline suitable prevention and control strategy.

Palabras clave : Smoking; prevalence; risk perception; Cuba.

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