Cambios en el uso de tabaco y factores relacionados en estudiantes del sexto al noveno grado, Estado Lara, Venezuela, años 2000 y 2003

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) is a school-based surveillance system. In Lara State, Venezuela, it was conducted by a coalition of organizations. The instrument includes: attitudes, knowledge, behaviors, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, mass media, and marketing. Participation was 85.7% in 2000 and 79.3% in 2003. Comparing prevalence (%) from 2000 to 2003: "first contact": unchanged (22.8%); "males having first cigarette before the age of 10": decreased (21.5% to 16.7%); "current cigarette smoker": unchanged (8.4% to 8.3%); "male smokers wanted to quit": increased (62.6% to 84....