English

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Tobacco use is a major proven risk factor and contributes substantially to the rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases. OBJECTIVE: 1.To study the prevalence of the use of smokeless tobacco/smoking amongst the school going children.2. To study the risk factors associated with tobacco use in the adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a Cross- sectional study. By simple random technique one private and one government school were selected after enlisting all the schools of Bhopal. All the adolescent students of class ninth to twelfth standard were interviewed. Statistical analysis was done using proportions and chi - square test. RESULT: In this study the prevalence was 15.95%. Smocking is the most common form of using tobacco by adolescents than tobacco chewing. Main inducing factor for addiction was found to be self for fun (55%) than friends (36%). Tobacco consumption significantly associated with habit in relatives (Chi- square = 58.5 p value < 0.001).No significant association for tobacco use amongst the students of government and private school there were no significant association. CONCLUSION: Habit in relatives and friends is major predisposing factor towards the addiction.