A cross sectional study to assess the prevalence and awareness of tobacco consumption among school students in a cosmopolitan city of India

Authors

  • Shachi Jain Taran Department of Pediatrics, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG Institute, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Rakesh Taran Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG Institute, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Satish Saroshe Department of Community Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Virendra Bhandari Department of Radiation oncology, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG Institute, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20160076

Keywords:

Tobacco consumption, Awareness, School health, National tobacco programme

Abstract

Background: Tobacco consumption is one of the leading preventable causes of cancer in the world. To reduce its prevalence awareness should be increased, especially among school going children as they are the important part of society and future of country. Present study was contemplated to assess the awareness of School Students from 9th to 12th standard regarding various aspects of tobacco consumption and its role in cancer.

Methods: Cross sectional study among 778 school children in ten schools, randomly selected from Indore district of Madhya Pradesh, studying in 9th to 12th Standard using pre designed pretested semi structured questionnaire.

Results: More than two third of the student know about tobacco and its uses. However only 41 (6.6%) had consumed any form of tobacco in their life time. Chewable form of tobacco use was more common. Peer pressure was the leading cause of initiating tobacco. 17 out 41 had some form of ill effect of tobacco. Despite of awareness that tobacco can lead to cancer, 70.7% of student had never tried to quit tobacco consumption.

Conclusions: Peer pressure should be minimised by good family environment and moral values to prevent tobacco uses in adolescents.

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Published

2016-12-31

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Original Research Articles