[CIGARETTE SMOKING AMONG SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN THE BRČKO DISTRICT OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY].

Objective The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking in adolescents in public schools of the Brčko District of B&H in relation to their gender, age and place of residence. Participants and ­Methods A cross-sectional study, based on the ESPAD (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) questionnaire adapted to this research comprised 4,188 respondents who attended primary and secondary schools. Data were collected using a questionnaire prepared for each respondent. Results Significantly fewer respondents smoke cigarettes compared to those who do not (p < 0.001), while in relation to gender male adolescents smoke more often than female adolescents (p = 0.012). In relation to their place of residence it is established that a significantly higher number of respondents from rural areas smoke cigarettes compared to those from the city (p < 0.001). More than half of the respondents, who smoke regardless of their gender, had their first cigarette before the age of 13. Male adolescents often begin smoking before the age of thirteen compared to female adolescents (p < 0.001), while female adolescents often begin smoking between the ages of 15 and 16 in relation to male adolescents (p <0.001). Every second respondent who smokes cigarettes irrespective of his/her place of residence did so at the age of 13. However, the respondents from rural areas smoke more often (p < 0.0001). Out of 895 respondents who smoked during the last month, 259 of or 30.3 % smoked only one cigarette a week, 162 or 18.1 % smoked 1-5 cigarettes a day, 168 or 18.8 % of the respondents smoked 6-10 cigarettes a day, 146 or 16.3 % smoked 11 to 20 cigarettes a day, and 160 or 17.9 % of the respondents smoked every day. Conclusion Although 42.8 % of the respondents who had ever smoked cigarettes is significantly less compared to 57.2 % of the respondents who do not smoke, that number is disturbing since we talk about the vulnerable population group and the fact that every second adolescent started smoking at the age to 13.