1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, S S Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Davangere
2Post Graduate, Department of Community Medicine, S S Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Davangere
Online published on 1 October, 2015.
To know the prevalence of tobacco use, age at initiation and factors contributing for early initiation of tobacco use among rural high school boys.
This cross-sectional study was conducted during March-April 2013, in 2 government and 2 private high schools, coming in the rural field practice area of a medical college, Karnataka, India. Complete enumeration of all the boys studying in these schools was done. After explaining the purpose of study and obtaining written informed consent, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information for the study.
Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test for proportions.
The prevalence of Tobacco use in any form was found to be 20%. The major form of Tobacco use was smoking present in 28(57.15%) of participants followed by chewing tobacco used by 16(32.65%). In terms of age of initiation of tobacco use majority of the boys admitted to use tobacco in any form between 13–14 years of age (59.19%). Majority of the study participants reported of being influenced by friends for initiation of tobacco use 48.9%.
Prevalence of tobacco use is high among rural high school boys. There is a downward shift in age at initiation of tobacco by children with rising prevalence. Friends followed by media are the major influencers for initiation of tobacco use.
Tobacco use, prevalence, rural high school boys
