Abstract
The progressive increase in the consumption of tobacco amongst adolescents is emerging as a complex and multidimensional problem. It continues to occupy a premier position as public health concern in almost all countries. Tobacco is the most common hazardous substance because it is legally available, heavily promoted and widely consumed by our future generations. Objective: The objective was to study the prevalence and influencing factors of tobacco use among adolescent students in NCT of Delhi. Materials and methods: Descriptive research design has been taken for the present study. The study seeks to describe the factors that could influence the pattern of tobacco consumption among school students. “Non Probability Sampling” has been used for selection of sample, lack of availability of coeducational schools in every district and permission of principals and parents for the study were excluded the use of probability sampling for the selection of sample. Setting: One government co-educational school form every 12 districts of education board of Delhi were chosen. 50 students from each school and there were 600 adolescent students aged 14-18 years. Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis was done with help of SPSS. Results: Overall prevalence of consumption of tobacco among boys was 50.2% and among girls it was 23.3%. The mean age of initiation of tobacco use was 12 years. Majority (78%) of the students reported that they do not know about any programme or law on Tobacco. Only few (22%) students talked about the knowledge of ban for selling of tobacco to the minor. Stress and anxiety (20.7%), was more prevalent among tobacco users students than their counter part. Tobacco users also found problem of sweating (18.7%), poor relations (14.9%) and habit of telling lie (11.2%). They also found much weaker with loss of appetite, followed by 29.9% having cold and cough problem, 25.8% fever/ body ache. Conclusion: Consumption of tobacco is an emerging social and public health problem and there is a need to sensitize parents, teachers and students towards the ill-effects of tobacco.
Highlights
It is seen that smoking and drinking become symbols of maturity and independence, among the young people
According to World Health Organization (WHO) (2009) tobacco consumption, in India, tobacco use will continue to increase at 2.4 percent per annum and most of the new users will be India’s school children and those who begin to use in their midteens are likely to get lung cancer by the time they are in their mid - thirties
It needs to be added that the present study shows higher prevalence of tobacco consumption among school children (Table 1)
Summary
It is seen that smoking and drinking become symbols of maturity and independence, among the young people. The use of tobacco provides an opportunity for taking part in a behavior that defies established social norms. Boys are more likely than girls to smoke, drink, and use drugs. This holds true in developing countries too, rates for girls are increasing faster. The behaviors of the important people in the immediate environment of the adolescents whom they may look up to as role models are likely to influence the activities of the adolescents. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined ‘adolescents’ as persons in the 10 to 19 years age group. People in the age group of 10-19 years, comprise 22% of the Indian population. Tobacco may give these students hypertension, heart disease, recurrent lung infections, ear infections, asthma, cough and poor grading (ICMR, 2006)
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