Tobacco use among youth and related characteristics, Turkey.

Objectives: To provide nationally representative data on smoking prevalence of Turkish adolescents; to examine their knowledge, attitude and exposure to tobacco.

Methods: A school-based representative survey of adolescents (13-15 years) was conducted within the frame of Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS). 15957 students were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling method and completed an internationally standardized questionnaire on tobacco use and related factors.

Results: About one-third of students had already experienced smoking and 10% were current smokers. Rate of exposure to passive smoking was high both in current smokers (89.0%) and never smokers (79.2%). More than one-third of current smokers had intended to quit. Susceptibility to initiate smoking was fairly high among never smokers, especially in boys (9.1% versus 5.8%). Considerable proportions of both never, and current smokers had positive attitude toward tobacco use. Half of the students had no school curriculum about the effects of tobacco use.

Conclusions: Smoking prevalence among Turkish adolescents is alarmingly high and the gender gap is closing. A relevant legislation is a must for success in tobacco control but should be combined by other effective prevention and cessation programs.