[Tobacco dependence and its relation to certain variables in an urban basic health area].

OBJECTIVE

The prevalence of habitual tobacco use in our area and its relationship to other epidemiological variables.

DESIGN

A highly structured interview was given to a random sample from the area in order to make a descriptive study of smokers' characteristics. Beforehand there had been: a pre-interview, training of the interviewers, reliability.

SETTING

The Arturo Eyries Base Health Area in Valladolid.

PARTICIPANTS

A random sample of 246 people over 14, extracted from a sampling background numbering 14,200.

INTERVENTION

Items related to tobacco addiction and included in the interview.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

43.9% +/- 5 of our population smoked, consuming an average of 16.4 +/- 10 (mean +/- SD) cigarettes per day. The average starting age was 17.2 +/- 5.4, with males starting earlier. The highest percentage of smokers was found in the 30-39 age group, where female smokers exceeded female non-smokers. The typical smoker's profile is that of a married middle-aged man or woman, of average education and able to work.

CONCLUSIONS

We obtained a section of the population at risk, clearly defined for health purposes.