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Background:Seventy per cent of premature deaths among adults are due to behavioral patterns that emerge in adolescence, including smoking.Objective:The objective was to study the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescent students in South Delhi and its epidemiological correlates.Materials and Methods:This was a cross-sectional study.Setting:Three schools and two colleges of South Delhi were chosen. There were 550 adolescent students aged 14-19.Statistical Analysis:Statistical analysis was done using proportions, the chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression.Results:A total of 88 (16.0%) students reported having ever tried cigarette or bidi smoking. The prevalence of current smoking was 7.1%. Exactly 10% (55) of the students reported having ever used smokeless forms of tobacco. The prevalence of tobacco use overall was found to be 20.9%, and was significantly higher (P=0.016) among the males than the females. Tobacco use was found to be significantly associated with having seen a brother/sister smoke (OR 5.15), best friend smoke (OR 2.92), and belonging to a nuclear family (OR 1.96).Conclusions:Tobacco use is still an important risk behavior among adolescent students. This study found a strong association of tobacco use by the adolescents with their having seen various role models ever smoking.

Objective:To study the prevalence of suicidal behavior and its epidemiological correlates amongst adolescent students in south Delhi.Settings and Design:A cross-sectional study in three schools and two colleges in south Delhi.Participants:A total of 550 adolescent students aged 14 to 19 years selected by cluster sampling.Statistical Analysis:Proportions, chi square test, bivariate logistic regression.Results:About 15.8% reported having thought of attempting suicide, while 28 (5.1%) had actually attempted suicide, both being more in females than in males. Statistically significant associations were observed with the age of the student, living status of parents, working status of mother, and whether the student was working part-time. The two variables found significant on multivariate analysis were female gender and the number of role models the student had ever seen smoking or drinking.Conclusion:The prevalence of suicide-risk behavior was found to be quite high and is a matter that should evoke public health concern.

Birth weight remains an important factor affecting infant and child mortality. Many factors influence the occurrence of low birth weight (LBW). The present study was conducted to study the prevalence and determinants of LBW in an urban resettlement area of Delhi. A baseline survey was done to enroll all pregnant women in the area. These women were followed up every month till outcome. The prevalence of LBW was 39.1%. Occurrence of LBW was related to age, parity, weight and height of the mother. In multiple logistic regression analysis, mother's weight and parity alone emerged as significant variables. On further analysis, on adjusting for age, parity and birth weight were associated for the 20-35-year age group only. Thus, prevalence of LBW remains high in the urban under privileged of Delhi; maternal age, parity and weight and height are important determinants. Increasing age of first birth to more than 20 years can minimize effect of primi parity.

Background:Injuries are a major cause of death and disability among the adolescents in the world.Objective:To study risk behavior related to interpersonal violence amongst school- and college-going adolescents in South Delhi and its epidemiological correlates.Study Design:Cross-sectional study.Setting:Three schools and two colleges in South Delhi.Participants:Five hundred and fifty adolescents aged 14-19 years.Statistical Analysis:Proportions, Chi-square test, multivariate logistic regression.Results:Among the study participants, 65 (11.8%) reported having carried a weapon in past 30 days. Seventy-four (13.5%) respondents had threatened or injured someone with a weapon in past 12 months. Almost one in every two boys (49.1%) reported being involved in a physical fight in past 12 months. Involvement in interpersonal violence was found to be significantly more amongst males than females. Adolescents who were working part time were more likely to be ‘at risk’ (67.5%) than those not working (48.5%). In logistic regression analysis, the significant correlates of interpersonal violence were male gender, lower age, number of close friends, having seen role models smoke/drink, and residing in resettlement colonies, slums or villages. The findings regarding violence-related behaviors among adolescents are remarkably similar to those in other countries.