Smoking Cessation in School Children in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

INTRODUCTION: Quitting tobacco use has many benefits for both individuals and society. For individuals, quitting of smoking provides immediate and long-term benefits to health. Higher levels of nicotine addiction and start smoking at a younger age are factors consider as strongly influence on quit smoking. Access to youth friendly quit lines increases a smoking cessation of school children. GOAL: Monitoring of trends of age of initiation of smoking and current smoking cigarettes as good motivation for smoking cessation among school children in the Federation of BiH. METHODS: Analysis of survey’s findings performed in the Federation of BiH in period 2008-2013, with particular focus on indicators of every smokers, currents smokers, start to smoke before age of ten, signs of smoking dependence and motivation for quitting smoking in school children. Surveys involves two-stage cluster sample design aimed to enroll students in grades 7, 8 and 9(th) of primary and 1(th) grade of secondary school. RESULTS: A survey findings indicates ever cigarettes smokers decreases from 45.9% in 2008 to 43.2% in 2013, as well decreases of current cigarette smoking from 14.3% in 2008 to 12.7% in 2013, both boys and girls. However, survey data shows decrease of current smoking students who want to stop smoking now from 50.5% in 2008 to 45.8% in 2013. CONCLUSIONS: Collected data confirmed decreases of current cigarette smoking in school children in the Federation of BiH in period 2008-2013. Access to available smoking cessation services and quit lines for school children and youth considers should be a significant part of tobacco control measure in the Federation of BiH.