Children's Smoking Habits in an Agricultural Community in Japan and the Importance of a No Smoking Program Integrating Family, School and Community Health

• NCJ Number: 171419
• Journal: Public Health Volume: 111 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1997) Pages: 289-292
• Author(s): T Fukushima; T Fujiwara; J Matsumoto; A Isobe; K Shiwaku; E Ishizaki; S Tsuchiya; Y Yamane
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study establishes a model of integration of the health promotion projects of schools and communities in an agricultural area of Japan, to address the problem of children's smoking.

Abstract

Study subjects were 10-to 15-year-old schoolchildren and their parents. Children completed questionnaires at school and their parents completed them at home, in July 1995. One-fourth of the junior high school boys had tried smoking, and most of their parents did not notice. More than half of the children who had tried smoking mainly acquired tobacco from their homes. One-tenth of them were prompted to smoke by their fathers or other relatives. To develop a health promotion project for children which includes prevention of smoking, it is important to provide a health education program and an environment that encourages health. The project should be community-based because participation of local inhabitants gives it additional impetus. The study emphasizes the importance of a healthy district plan based on the health policy of the general community. Figures, tables, references