Tobacco use among adolescent students and the influence of role models

Abstract

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.

Pattern of tobacco use among adolescents in urban slums of Jorhat, Assam

“…Similar findings were observed in other studies. 15,18,26 However, age distribution, sex, type of family and religion were not found to have any significant association with current use of tobacco in our study. Yerpude et al also did not find any significant difference in practice of tobacco use between male and female adolescents.…”

Psychosocial Determinants of Intention to Use Tobacco Among Adolescents in India

“…Parental use of tobacco significantly contributed to the adolescents' intention to use tobacco, confirming the findings of studies published in India and in other countries (Awasthi, Jha, Rawat, Pandey, & Swami, 2010;Bagchi, Ganguly, Pal, & Chatterjee, 2014;Scalici & Schulz, 2014;Sharma, Grover, & Chaturvedi, 2010). What is interesting is that the discussion with parents about the harmful effect of tobacco had a significant positive influence, which led to reduction in the intention to use tobacco products.…”

Health awareness and behavior among adolescent students in a rural school: a cross sectional observational study

“…Tobacco use was appreciably higher among the males (23.8%) than the females adolescent age group (14.9%), (P=0.016).The prevalence rate of current smoking is 7.1%. 15 Our study showed that 4.9% males have consumed tobacco in any form in a rural area which leads to a conclusion that the tobacco consumption might be at a larger scale in urban areas. In our study females are more aware of the ill effects of taking tobacco than males which is comparable to study done by Sharma et al 15 In later years of adolescent age, teenagers tend to get physically attracted and intimated with the opposite sex which may lead to increase in the risk of contracting STD's, if proper protection not used.…”

“…15 Our study showed that 4.9% males have consumed tobacco in any form in a rural area which leads to a conclusion that the tobacco consumption might be at a larger scale in urban areas. In our study females are more aware of the ill effects of taking tobacco than males which is comparable to study done by Sharma et al 15 In later years of adolescent age, teenagers tend to get physically attracted and intimated with the opposite sex which may lead to increase in the risk of contracting STD's, if proper protection not used. 16 Several studies in Indian literature have raised issues on the awareness of reproductive and sexual health in adolescents.…”