22% of schoolchildren try to smoke until age 7 - research

Bishkek, May 29, 2020 / Kabar /. 22% of schoolchildren admitted that they tried to smoke until the age of 7, cardiologist of the National Center for Cardiology and Therapy Aichurek Tolebaeva told at Kabar Agency.

She said that a global study of tobacco use among young people was conducted in 2019 for the fourth time.

“The study involved more than 5 thousand students of 13-15 years old. So, 22% of schoolchildren tried to smoke until the age of 7 years old. This is pre-school age,” she said.

Tolebaeva noted that the trend of tobacco use among young people is growing. Especially among teenagers there is the popularization of electronic cigarettes.

“If there is a decrease in cigarette smoking, then the use of electronic cigarettes and hookah in the urban part is increasing. 2.8% of teenagers use hookah, the same amount use electronic cigarettes,” the cardiologist added.

In addition, Aichurek Tolebaeva said that more than 50% of schoolchildren are exposed to secondhand smoke in school, 16% at home.