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Narrative
The youth lifetime smoking abstinence indicator estimates the proportion of young people age 12-19 years who have never smoked a whole cigarette.
Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of premature death and illness in Ontario. Smoking accounts for approximately 13,000 deaths annually and results in a substantial burden on the health care system. 46
Preventing children and youth from starting to use tobacco products is a key pillar of the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy (SFOS). Research has shown that more than 80% of current and former smokers in Canada started smoking before the age of 20. 48 Thus, preventing adolescents from experimenting with tobacco products during adolescence is a key intervention to prevent them from smoking as adults - and to prevent morbidity and mortality from chronic disease.
Youth tobacco use is associated with a variety of personal, behavioural, environmental, and socio-demographic factors, including:
- lower self esteem 49
- lower academic achievement 50
- lower socio-economic status 51
- peer and parental smoking 48
- use of alcohol, and marijuana 50
The goal of public health policies, programs and services is to reduce the burden of preventable chronic diseases of public health importance. Public health units are responsible for:
- increasing public awareness of the importance of comprehensive tobacco control
- working with youth to adopt tobacco-free living
- working with schools to educate students about the dangers of smoking
- ensuring tobacco vendors are in compliance with the SFOA
- reducing youth access to tobacco products
In 2007, 81% of youth age 12-19 years in Ontario had never smoked a whole cigarette. Based on 36 public health units in Ontario, the highest proportion was 92% and the lowest was 48% of youth age 12-19 years who have never smoked a whole cigarette.
Indicator Definition
Definition:
The youth lifetime smoking abstinence indicator estimates the proportion of young people age 12-19 years who have never smoked a whole cigarette.
Data Source(s):
| Numerator: |
Canadian Community Health Survey 2007, Statistics Canada, Ontario Share File distributed by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care |
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| Denominator: |
Canadian Community Health Survey 2007, Statistics Canada, Ontario Share File distributed by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care |
Formula:
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Weighted number of respondents age 12-19 years who have never smoked at least one whole cigarette
Weighted total number of respondents age 12-19 years
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x 100 |
Notes:
- Based on CCHS Question SMK_01B "Have you ever smoked a whole cigarette?"
- Numerator: SMK_01=No (2)
- Denominator: SMK_01= Yes (1), No (2) or Not Applicable (6)
- Refusals (8) and Not Stated (9) responses were excluded
Data
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