Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding smoking in adolescents in Armenia : National Antismoking Program : baseline data collection : grant proposal paper

Abstract

Tobacco smoking has been worlwide identified as the most important source of preventive morbidity and premature mortality. Numerous studies have shown that there is a strong association between smoking and a wide variety of adverse health effects. In Armenia there is high prevalence of smoking (43%: among males 90%, among females 30%) and estimated Mean Years Lost per death from smoking is 21. The economical, cultural and social changes in Armenia are lowering the starting age for smoking, increasing the duration of smoking and increasing the percentage of the population that smokes.