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I.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Design and Purpose of the Survey
The 2009 Leon County Youth Tobacco Survey (LYTS) was
completed in the spring of 2009 and is the first in a series of school-based
surveys. The design of the survey is to help monitor trends in tobacco use
among public school students in grades 6 through 12 and to compare changes
in rates over time. The survey also collects data on topics including:
tobacco use; tobacco-related knowledge, attitudes and beliefs; access to
tobacco products; exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; initiation;
influence of family, friends and the media; and social, school and
community interventions.
1.2
The Instrument
The Leon County Tobacco Survey uses a core set of questions
developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on
Smoking and Health (CDC).
1.3
School and Student Response Rates
Classes from _middles schools and _ high schools were
selected for the
II.
FINDINGS
2.1 Demographic
Summary
The surveyed population
consisted of 50 percent female and 49 percent male with 1 percent
unreported. The population is divided by race as followed, 61 percent
Caucasian, 26 percent African-American, 4 percent Hispanic, and 5 percent
reported as other race. Out of our population surveyed 62 percent were
middle school students; 18 percent in 6th grade, 24 percent in 7th
grade, and 20 percent in 8th grade. 38 percent were high school
students; 10 percent in 9th grade, 7 percent in 10th
grade, 9 percent in 11th grade, 12 percent in 12th
grade.
2.2 Trends in
Tobacco Use
About one-third of male
students, 31% and 27 % female students reported ever trying some form of
tobacco products in their life time (Fig 6).
Middle school students’
ever use of tobacco products was 23% compared to 38% of high school students
who reported ever smoking (Fig 7).
There are also important
differences in ever use of tobacco products across racial groups. White
students reported the highest rate of ever use, 31%, followed by Hispanic
students, 30%, African-American, 25%, Other Minority, 23% (Fig 8).
Looking into the future,
5% of male students and 2% of female students who were currently non-smokers
reported that they will probably smoke in the future (Fig 9).
Trends in frequent
tobacco use across racial groups were lower especially on school property.
The frequency use rate for Hispanic, African-American and Other Minority
were all 3% whereas 2% for White students (Fig 10).
Looking at frequency use
of other tobacco products on school property was even lower than cigarette
use. During a 30 day period, 3% of Other Minority students, 2% of both White
and African-American students, and 1% of Hispanic students reported
frequency use of chew tobacco, snuff or dip use on school property (Fig 11).
2.3 Knowledge of
Tobacco
Since young people are
vulnerable to second hand smoke at home, in cars, and school, students were
asked questions to gauge their knowledge of the harmfulness of tobacco.
Among middle schools 72% strongly acknowledged the harmfulness of exposure
to second hand smoke. On the other hand, 64% agreed to the same question.
Interestingly, 2% of middle school students and 1% of high school students
indicated that they had no knowledge of the harmfulness of exposure to
second hand smoke (Fig 12).
Majority of the students
reported that they had knowledge of the school rule banning cigarette use,
chew tobacco, or snuff on school property. However, 8% of middle school and
around 7% of high school students reported not having knowledge of the
schools’ ban on tobacco products (Fig 13, 14).
2.4 Attitudes
towards Tobacco
Young people’s attitudes about the acceptability of smoking
are influenced by what they see their peers and educators doing at school.
Strong school anti-tobacco policies require the support of parents,
teachers, principals, policy makers, and the general public. In addition,
young people spend much of their formative years in school. Their attitudes
toward the acceptability of smoking in general are influenced by the actions
of their peers and educators at school.
More female students, 63%, strongly agreed to
strict smoking ban enforcement. In contrast, 54% of male students agreed to
the same question (Fig 15).
Whereas 38% of female students strongly agreed to
not being allowed to smoke in public area, only 33% of male students
strongly agreed (Fig 16).
41% of middle school
students strongly agree that they should not be allowed to smoke in public
area. However, only 28% of high school students agreed. In addition, 7% of
middle school students and 9% of high school students strongly disagreed
with the aforementioned question (Fig 17).
Results of attitudes
towards parents smoking in front of children across racial groups seemed to
be almost similar. However, 13% of Hispanic students reported to strongly
agree with parents smoking in front of their children (Fig 18).
More female students,
55%, and 45% of male students strongly disagreed that parents smoke in front
of their children. Examining the above question indicated that more male
students seem to have strongly unfavorable attitudes toward parents smoking
in front of their children. For instance, 6% and 4% of male and female
students strongly agreed respectively (Fig 19).
Majority of the students
disagreed with the fact that smokers have more friends. However, findings
indicate that 19% and 17% of males and females respectively stated probably
yes. In addition, 6% and 3% of male and female students respectively
answered definitely yes (Fig 20).
The perception of smokers
having more friends also varied among middle and high school students. 19%
of middle school students and 16% of high school students answered probably
yes (Fig 21).
The perception of not
smoking as a way to express independence had very interesting responses. 20%
of males said definitely not whereas 25% of male students said definitely
yes. On the other hand, 14% of female students reported definitely not,
whereas 39% reported definitely yes (Fig 22).
More high school
students, 19%, and 16% of middle students answered definitely not to the
perception of not smoking as a way to express independence (Fig 23).
Data indicate that adolescent cigarette smokers
are significantly more likely to believe that smokers are more socially
adept than nonsmokers. 5% of male students and 3% of female students
reported that smokers look cool or fit in (Fig 24).
10% of both middle school and high school
students indicated that smoking makes smokers look cool or fit in. Clearly,
this percentage shows the social desirability of smoking among young
students (Fig 25).
Another area of focus in this study was students’
perception of difficulty of obtaining cigarettes. Figure 26 presents data
from grade 6 through grade 12 students. Interestingly, students at the
highest grade level thought it was easy. For instance, 94% of 12th grade
students and 39% of 6th grade students indicated that it was easy
to obtain cigarettes (Fig 26).
On the other hand, more 38% of female students
and 28% of male students respectively reported their perception of
difficulty of obtaining cigarettes (Fig 27).
More female than male
students reported preference that smoking should not be allowed at all in
school building, indoor and outdoor sporting events, 61 percent and 55
percent respectively.
More middle school than
high school students reported preference that smoking should not be allowed
at all in school building, indoor and outdoor sporting events, 61 percent
and 53 percent respectively.
Both middle school and
high school students reported preferring either no change in their school’s
smoking policy, 41 percent and 45 percent respectively; or preferring a
stronger policy, 48 percent and 40 percent respectively.
Similar results were
captured when comparing male and female student population; 41 percent and
44 percent respectively preferring no change in their school’s smoking
policy, and 42 percent and 48 percent respectively preferring a stronger
policy.
48 percent of females
reported definite opposition to using or wearing something that has a
tobacco company’s name or picture on it, whereas only 34 percent of males
reported the same. More males than females reported they would definitely
use or wear something that has a tobacco company’s name or picture on it, 10
percent and 5 percent respectively.
Similar results were
found comparing middle school and high school student responses; 47 percent
of middle school students reported definite opposition to using or wearing
something that has a tobacco company’s name or picture on it, compared to
only 32 percent of high school students. More high school students than
middle school students reported they would definitely use or wear something
that has a tobacco company’s name or picture on it, 11 percent and 6 percent
respectively.
Students reported the
peer influence of a best friend offering them a cigarette, 69 percent of
females and 60 percent of males responded they would definitely not smoke
the cigarette offered to them. Similar results were reported when comparing
middle and high school populations, 68 percent of middle school students and
60 percent of high school students reported they would definitely not smoke
the cigarette offered to them by their best friend.
To gauge future tobacco
use students reported their probability of them smoking a cigarette in the
next year, 69 percent of middle school students and 58 percent of high
school students reported they would definitely not smoke. However, 10
percent of high schools reported that they definitely intend to smoke in the
next year. More females than males reported they would definitely not smoke
in the next year, 68 percent and 62 percent respectively.
61 percent of females
reported that they strongly agreed that adults should not be allowed to use
tobacco on school grounds or at any school events, whereas only 49 percent
of males strongly agreed. Comparing middle school and high school student’s
attitude toward adults not to be allowed to use tobacco on school grounds or
at any school events, 60 percent and 47 percent respectively reported they
strongly agreed.
2.5 Media Influence
on Students Tobacco Use
Reported student
perception that tobacco companies target a young population in their media
advertisements showed 47 percent of female and 46 percent of male believe
this is definitely true. 48 percent middle school and 45 percent high school
students definitely believe that tobacco companies target a young population
in their media advertisements.
In middle school 34
percent of students self-reported that they are exposed to ads or promotions
for tobacco products all the time in the newspaper. Students reported being
exposed most of the time in magazines and on the Internet, 17 percent and 10
percent respectively.
In high school 26 percent
of students self-reported that they are exposed to ads or promotions for
tobacco products all the time in the newspaper. Students reported being
exposed most of the time in magazines and on the Internet, 18 percent and 9
percent respectively.
35 percent of high school
students reported buying or receiving anything with a tobacco company name
or picture on it during the past 12 months, whereas 21 percent of middle
school students indicated the same.
Middle school students
indicated the frequency of their exposure to anti-smoking commercials or
messages during the past 12 months on various media. On TV 21 percent
reported 1-3 times in the past 30 days and 19 percent reported daily or
almost daily exposure. On the radio 38 percent reported no exposure in the
past 30 days, and in newspapers and magazines 18 percent reported 1-3 times
in the past 30 days.
High school students
indicated the frequency of their exposure to anti-smoking commercials or
messages during the past 12 months on various media. On TV 24 percent
reported 1-3 times in the past 30 days and 21 percent reported daily or
almost daily exposure. On the radio 32 percent reported no exposure in the
past 30 days and 19 percent reported daily or almost daily exposure. In
newspapers and magazines 21 percent reported 1-3 times in the past 30 days.
Middle school students
indicated the frequency of their exposure to cigarette or other tobacco
product ads or items with tobacco company names or pictures on them. 57
percent of students report frequency of exposure as all of the time in a
convenience store, 23 percent report exposure in a supermarket, and an
astonishing 70 percent report frequency of exposure as all the time in a gas
station.
High school students
indicated the frequency of their exposure to cigarette or other tobacco
product ads or items with tobacco company names or pictures on them. 64
percent of students report frequency of exposure as all of the time in a
convenience store, 24 percent report exposure in a supermarket, and an
astonishing 74 percent report frequency of exposure as all the time in a gas
station.
2.6 Access to
Tobacco Products
Most high school students
reported that they obtained cigarettes from gas stations, whereas most of
middle school students reported that they obtained cigarettes through social
networks such as friends. Interestingly, 10 percent of high school students
and 4 percent of middle school students reported that no one refused to sell
them cigarettes because of their age.
2.7 Behavior
towards Tobacco
62 percent of females and
47 percent males asked someone not to smoke. Majority of the students
indicated that the smoke was annoying to them and that they were concerned
about their own health.
An alarming number of
high school students, 82 percent, have reported that they have seen other
students break the schools’ no-smoking rule, whereas 36 percent of middle
students indicated the same.
On the other hand, 41
percent and 33 percent of high school and middle school students
respectively indicated that they have seen adults break the schools’
no-smoking rule.
However, a very little
percentage of 1 percent and 2 percent of high school and middle school
students respectively indicated that they were not aware that their schools’
had no-smoking rule.
Frequency of parent or
guardian discussions about the dangers of tobacco use.
An equal of percentage
of males and females, 31 percent, reported that their parents or guardian
had never discussed with them about the dangers of tobacco use. On the
other hand, 40 percent and 25 percent of high school and middle school
students respectively reported that aforementioned statement.
26 percent of High school
students reported exposure to smoke from other people’s cigarettes, pipes,
or cigars while on school property. In contrast, 11 percent of middle
school students indicated the same.
2.8 SWAT
Involvement
Our surveyed population
reported SWAT membership consists of only 7 percent females and 6 percent
males, out of these only 7 percent high school and 6 percent middle school
students reported being a member of their school’s SWAT program.
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