Tobacco use among adolescents in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. 2015-2019

Abstract

Objective: To analyze tobacco consumption practices in adolescents aged 13 to 15 in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Metodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), which included 13,892 adolescents collected between 2015 and 2019. A multi-stage sampling was applied, analyzing sociodemographic variables, consumption prevalence, age of initiation, and tobacco accessibility. Data were processed using relative and absolute frequencies to identify patterns in each country.

Results: The prevalence of adolescents who had ever tried smoking was 28.61%, with Guatemala (33.62%) and Honduras (19.84%) standing out. Currently, 10.32% smoke, with average consumption being low (less than one cigarette per day). About 2.1% started smoking before age 10. Additionally, 17.55% reported ease of purchasing tobacco near schools, while only 5.72% faced age-related restrictions. Smoking cessation intention was highest in Guatemala (11.41%) and lowest in Honduras (5.02%). Conclusions: The findings reflect early initiation and persistence of tobacco consumption among adolescents in the region, evidencing deficiencies in regulation and enforcement of standards. Differences between countries underscore the influence of cultural and political factors, highlighting the need for more in-depth research on social determinants of health, as well as comprehensive and adapted tobacco policies.