Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 46, No 3, Oktobar, 2007
UDK 61
YU ISSN 0365-4478
 

Correspondence to:
Miodrag Stojanović

Institut za javno zdravlje

Bulevar dr Zorana Đinđića 50

18000 Niš, Srbija

064/822 72 63

Copyright 2007 by Faculty  of Medicine, University of Nis

SMOKING HABITS OF NIS PRESCHOOL CHILDREN'S PARENTS

Miodrag Stojanovic, Zoran Milosevic, Dijana Musovic, Aleksandar Visnjic, Boris Djindjic, Miodrag Vucic and Nektarios Rizakis

Institut za javno zdravlje u Nišu¹

Medicinski fakultet u Nišu²

Klinika za hematologiju Kliničkog centra u Nišu³

General Hospital of Larisa, Greece⁴

The greatest threat for the public health in Serbia is definitively smoking. 1,3 billion of people in the world are smokers and 4,9 million of death at the global level are direct consequences of smoking. If this smoking rhythm continues until 2020. the number of deaths caused by smoking will have been doubled. There are 4000 identified substances in the tobacco smoke, 50 of which have been proven to be carcinogenic. Nowdays, 14000 to 15000 young people in the developed countries and 68000-84000 in the underdeveloped contries begin to smoke. 700 millions of children, the half of the whole children population, are exposed to the passive smoking.

The prevalence of smoking in Serbia, although reduced by 6,9% compared to 2000 is  still very high and makes 33,6% of the whole population (38,1% of men and 29,9%  of women).

The aim of this study was to investigate the smoking habits of preschool children's parents, motivated by the fact that the children of that age are highly sensitive and susceptible to the toxic influence of tobacco smoke, but also to check the necessity for an aggressive public health programme implementation in the aimed populations.

This research, as a cross-sectional stady, is carried out among preschool children's parents, children being 4 to 6 years old that attend nursery schools in Nis.

The prevalence of smoking in preschool children's parents is extremely high, and makes 46% (45,1% of men and 46,9% of women). Having taken into consideration the parental role in upbringing and education of children, as well as the influence of passive smoking, the main conclusion is that the children's health is seriously endangered. Education, making new and maintaining already existing programmes and legal obligations considering smoking are significant steps for reducing  smoking and promoting health. Acta Medica Medianae 2007;46(3):11-15.

Key words:smoking habits, passive smoking, preschool children

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