Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: January | Volume: 10 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 88-92
Prevalence of Tobacco Use & Its Age of Initiation among School Children in Raipur City India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Neha Shrivastava1, Nirmal Verma2, Smita Verma1
1Assistant Professor, 2Professor & Head,
Department of Community Medicine, Pt. J.N.M. Medical College, Raipur (C.G),
Corresponding Author: Neha Shrivastava
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Tobacco use is the chief preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Youth in general and adolescents in particular fall prey to this habit with severe physical, psychological and economic implications. Hence the present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of tobacco use & their age of initiation of these habits among school students.
Methods: It was a cross sectional observational study done in 1081 students of selected 16 high schools of Raipur city chosen through two stage cluster sampling. Study tool - Predesigned Pretested questionnaire.Data was entered in Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed.
Results: The prevalence of tobacco consumption was 16% and were significantly more in boys as compared to girls (P<0.05). Ever smokers comprised 419 (8.4%),Ever tobacco chewers comprised 105 (9.7%) student. ‘Exclusive ever smokers’ comprised 75 (6.9 %), ‘exclusive ever tobacco chewers’ 89 (8.23%) and ‘ever both smoking and tobacco chewing forms’ were 16 (1.48%) The mean age of initiation of tobacco habits were 13 years(SD1.414), in both boys and girls. Majority students 64% initiated this tobacco habit between 11 to14 years of age and were below 15 years of age, this shows downward shift of age of initiation.
Conclusions: The study reveals a recent downward shift in the age at initiation of tobacco uptake and rising prevalence among girls. Further epidemiological exploration and interventions to curb tobacco use among growing future generations is the call of the day.
Key words: Prevalence, Age of initiation, tobacco use