Smoking in adolescents with cleft lip and/or palate: prevalence and associated factors

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with smoking in adolescents with cleft lip and/or palate. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, developed in a Brazilian public and tertiary hospital between November 2018 and August 2019. Adolescents aged between 12 and 19 years old, previously submitted to cheiloplasty and/or palatoplasty surgeries were included. Data collection was carried out through interviews, guided by questionnaires referring to sociodemographic issues, use and factors associated with smoking. For statistical analysis, Fisher’s Exact Test, Chi-square, Student’s t test and bivariate logistic regression were used, all with a significance level of 5% (p≤0.05). RESULTS: 102 adolescents participated. The prevalence of smoking was 20.6% (n=21). Having cleft lip and palate was associated with smoking (p=0.012). The bivariate analysis showed that not dating (p=0.001; OR=0.19) and owning a home (p=0.032; OR=0.33) were configured as protective factors for the act of being a smoker, while believing that smoking facilitates interaction with young people or with the group of friends (p=0.043; OR=2.95), having friends who use alcoholic beverages (p=0.002; OR=8.40), having friends who use drugs, except cigarettes (p=0.002; OR=5.33), use alcoholic beverages (p<0.001; OR=10.67) and sexual initiation (p<0.001; OR=7.00), were associated with being a smoker. CONCLUSIONS: From the knowledge of the profile of adolescents most vulnerable to tobacco use, it is possible to plan and implement educational and preventive actions.