School of Preventive Oncology, Patna E-mail : dsl@sancharnet.in
To examine impact of Gutka advertisement on smokeless tobacco use.
To investigate tobacco use prevalence and related issues among 13-15 years students in Sikkim, India.
Survey through anonymous, self-administered questionnaire on a two-stage probability sample proportional to the enrollment size.
Schools having grade 8-10.
Students in grade 8-10.
Tobacco use, gender, exposure to gutka advertisements.
With Epi-Info software, percentage with 95% confidence interval.
The overall response rate was over 85% and the proportion of boys was 55%. Current smokeless tobacco (boys, 35.5-49.5%, girls, 27.2-36.4%) and gutka (boys 8.4-22.2%, girls, 14.2-22.2%) use and exposure to gutka advertisements was reported equally by boys and girls. Current smokeless tobacco users than never tobacco users were significantly more likely to watch gutka advertisements in all media; to have something with gutka brand names; and to have positive attitude towards tobacco use.
Strong association between exposure to gutka advertisement and current smokeless tobacco use among boys and girls in Sikkim is shown. Stronger restriction by the government is recommended.
