Abstract
Tobacco and alcohol consumption has become a serious public health problem. Evidences show that both alcohol and tobacco consumption can cause substantial health related morbidity and mortality among adolescents.The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), a cross-sectional survey conducted among school students, aged 13–15 years, highlighted that the overall prevalence of current tobacco users in India was (14.6%) in the year 2009. The consumption of tobacco and alcohol among adolescents in India is increasing dramatically. Hence, a study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and practice about alcohol and tobacco consumption among male adolescents. The objective of the study was to assess the level of knowledge and practice regarding tobacco and alcohol consumption among the male adolescents living in urban slum of Delhi. A cross sectional study was carried out among 100 male adolescents from urban slums of Delhi. Data was collected using semi-structured, self-administered interview schedule. The collected data was entered using Microsoft Excel 2007 and was analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 20. Chi-square test was applied and level of significance was kept at P value of <0.05. The study period was from 11 June to 31 July. The knowledge level among adolescents regarding tobacco and alcohol and its harmful effects found satisfactory. Almost all the participants had knowledge regarding different forms of tobacco and diseases caused by tobacco intake in various forms and alcohol consumption. In spite of having sound knowledge of harmful effect of tobacco and alcohol, high percentage was using them. Only (14.0%) of study participants never consumed any kind of tobacco and alcohol.In our study we revealed that mere knowledge regarding tobacco intake and alcohol consumption is not important. Participants of the study having adequate knowledge didn't practice the same. The implementation of strict rules regarding prevention from tobacco and alcohol is needed.
Highlights
Tobacco and alcohol abuse among adolescents is a major public health problem across the country.[2]
A cross sectional study was conducted in urban slum in South-West Delhi, New Delhi between 11th June 2019 to 31st July 2019.The purpose of the study was to assess the level of knowledge and practice regarding tobacco and alcohol among male adolescents
The diseases caused by tobacco and alcohol consumption were well known by the participants
Summary
Tobacco and alcohol abuse among adolescents is a major public health problem across the country.[2] Tobacco consumption in India starts during adolescence and early adulthood i.e., in the age group of [15-24] years. India is reporting a higher prevalence of risky behaviors among their young people. The study revealed that the overall lifetime prevalence of tobacco use was 6.9 per cent (12.5% males and 1.2% females). The study revealed that about (36%) out of 1285 students have tasted/used homemade alcoholic drinks (HADs) and (12.3%) used commercially available alcoholic drinks (CADs) They taste alcoholic drinks at a very young age. 11 According to Singh Avi et al (August 8th, 2017), a cross sectional study on tobacco and alcohol abuse among medical students revealed that (61.29%) males and (8.24%) females consumed both tobacco and alcohol. As the country is progressing in economic front, more and more slum dwellers especially adolescents are getting into tobacco and alcohol abuse
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