To Determine Tobacco Usage and Associated Risk Factors among Adolescents- A Survey

Abstract

Aim: To determine tobacco usage and associated factors among adolescents. Material & Method: The present study was conducted on 1350 students age ranged 12- 17 years of age. Parameters such as type of school, type of tobacco use, type of family, grade, father occupation, mother occupation, monthly pocket money, history of parental use of tobacco and type of family was recorded. Results: Age group 12-14 years had 780 and 15-17 years had 570 subjects. Subjects were from private school in 890 and government in 460. Grade was 7th in 110, 8th in 230, 9th in 450and 10th in 560 subjects. Family of subjects was nuclear in 960 and joint in 390. Father occupation was service in 362, farmer in 290, business in 446 and laborer in 252, mother occupation was housewife in 440 and working in 910, parental tobacco usage habit was present in 830 subjects. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Authors found that later age, male gender, nuclear family, monthly income >5000 per month, parental use and private school was predictor and risk factor of tobacco usage among school children.