Objective: To determine the prevalence of tobacco consumption (TC) and frequency according to demographics and health aspects.
Methods: A cross-sectional study from the Mexican Family Life Survey Project was conducted. The past and present TC according to sociodemo-graphic variables and the presence of chronic diseases (CD) were achieved.
Results: The prevalence of TC in the past was 21.4 % with a male/female ratio of 2.5. Nowadays TC was 15.2 % and the ratio between male/female was 2.6 (23.0: 8.9); exposure levels by age decreased at present. Out of the total smokers in the past 71 % continue with the habit, 75 % began TC before the age of 20. In the 15 to 19 years group, 50 % of them started before the age of 14. The highest cigarette pack consumption mean was 2.5 per week and for the present smokers was 1.8; the prevalence for CD in the smoking population was above 20 %; present smoking diminished in those with a history of CD, especially cancer and heart disease.
Conclusions: The prevalence of past and present TC is lower than that reported in other studies in the Mexican population, because of how the exposure to TC was measure.