Implementation of chronic disease risk factor surveillance in 12 Cuban municipalities.

Chronic non-communicable diseases have been called the pandemic of the 21st century and constitute a high-priority public health challenge; hence growing interest in chronic disease risk factor surveillance. Cuba is implementing decentralized risk factor surveillance in each of its municipalities as part of a strategy to address non-communicable diseases. Decentralized surveillance with this level of detail and explicitly designed to inform municipal and provincial decisionmaking is unprecedented in Cuba.

Tobacco and alcohol use in Cuban women.

Introduction: Tobacco and alcohol are currently the most widely consumed legal psychoactive substances in the world. They represent a heavy burden for health and society in almost all populations. Increasing consumption of both substances is a trend observed in women.

Smoking-attributable mortality in cuba.

Introduction Smoking is the main preventable cause of death worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that smoking causes 5 million deaths annually, a figure that could double shortly if the present trend in tobacco product consumption continues. Objectives Estimate smoking-attributable mortality in the Cuban population and provide information needed to carry out effective public health actions.

Use of medical counseling for the prevention and control of smoking in the municipality of old Havana.

Physicians have an important responsibility for addressing smoking cessation and prevention with their patients. The objective of this study was to describe the use of physician counseling for the prevention and control of smoking and to predict its use according to physician characteristics. A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 121 family physicians in one municipality of the city of Havana was used to address sociodemographic factors, years of practice in the community, smoking status, use of physician counseling in daily practice (ask, advise, and assist), and the role of physician counseling as an intervention.