Main Article Content
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Tobacco use is a serious public health problem worldwide and it is the largest preventable risk factor for non-communicable diseases, also acting as a significant hurdle to development gains worldwide. Tobacco use among adolescents is increasing in epidemic proportions and this has profound public health implications. Although the single baseline measure of tobacco use in adolescence is unlikely to capture the lifetime risk of diseases, the prevalence of current tobacco use among adolescents is an important predictor of the future burden of tobacco-related diseases. Due to the enormous psychosocial and health effects of tobacco on childhood and adolescence, it is important to understand its burden and its associated socio-demographic factors for formulating effective tobacco control measures in adolescents. We wanted to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents and determine the factors associated with tobacco use among adolescents in higher secondary schools in Ambalappuzha Block, Kerala.
METHODS
A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents in higher secondary schools in a block panchayat area in Kerala using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. The use of tobacco was explored using the global school-based student health survey questionnaire (GSHS) and the associated factors were analysed using the chi-square test.
RESULTS
The prevalence of tobacco use which was categorised as ever users of tobacco was 13 % and the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use was 15.9 % among the study participants. A significant association was found between age, year of study, smoking status of parents, feeling of inability to study, poor academic grades and lack of confidence to face exams and tobacco use.
CONCLUSIONS
Tobacco use is an important risk behaviour among adolescent students. Risk behaviours can be made less damaging if addressed early in life and schools play an important role in addressing this public health problem by promoting healthy behaviours and lifestyles in adolescents.
Keywords
Article Details
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References
- Non communicable diseases. [Cited 2022 May 23]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases
- Mathers CD, Loncar D. Projections of global mortality and burden of disease from 2002 to 2030. Plos Med 2006;3(11):e442.
- Morgenstern M, Sargent JD, Engels RCME, et al. Smoking in European adolescents: relation between media influences, family affluence, and migration background. Addict Behav 2013;38(10):2589-95.
- Akseer N, Mehta S, Wigle J, et al. Non-communicable diseases among adolescents: current status, determinants, interventions and policies. BMC Public Health 2020;20(1):1908.
- Kumar R, Raizada A, Aggarwal AK, et al. Adolescent behaviour regarding reproductive health. Indian J Pediatr 2000;67(12):877-82.
- Early and late adolescence. http://www.unicef.org/sowc2011/pdfs/Early-and-late-adolescence.pdf
- CDC Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2019. [cited 2022 May 24]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/gshs/index.htm
- Sogarwal R, Bachani D, Kumar B, et al. Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases among Higher Secondary School Students in Selected Districts of India. Am J Public Health Res 2014;2(1):16-20.
- Narain R, Sardana S, Gupta S, et al. Age at initiation & prevalence of tobacco use among school children in Noida, India: A cross-sectional questionnaire based survey. Indian J Med Res 2011;133(3):300-7.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2009.
- World Health Organization. GSHS India (CBSE) 2007 Fact Sheet 2007:1–2.
- Singh AK, Maheshwari A, Sharma N, et al. Lifestyle associated risk factors in adolescents. Indian J Pediatr 2006;73(10):901-6.
- Da Silva KS, Lopes ADS, Vasques DG, et al. Clustering of risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases among adolescents: prevalence and associated factors. Rev Paul Pediatr 2012;30(3):338-45.
- Parsekar SS, Ashok L, Monteiro AD, et al. Modifiable life style associated risk factors for non communicable diseases among students of pre-university college of Udupi taluk. Glob J Med Public Health 2015;4(2).
- Mohan S, Sarma PS, Thankappan KR. Access to pocket money and low educational performance predict tobacco use among adolescent boys in Kerala, India. Prev Med 2005;41(2):685-92.
- Devi GMI, Mathew E, Manjula VD, et al. Prevalence and determinants of tobacco, alcohol and drug use among adolescent school children in an urban area Kottayam District Kerala. J Evol Med Dent Sci 2014;3(36):9456-64.
- Narain R, Sardana S, Gupta S, et al. Age at initiation & prevalence of tobacco use among school children in Noida, India: a cross-sectional questionnaire based survey. Indian J Med Res 2011;133(3):300-7.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. Tobacco Use Among Students And Teachers. Findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) and Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS) India 2003-2009. WHO 2009.
- Singh V, Pal HR, Mehta M, et al. Tobacco consumption and awareness of their health hazards amongst lower income group school children in National Capital Territory of Delhi. Indian Pediatr 2007;44(4):293-5.
- Chockalingam K, Vedhachalam C, Rangasamy S, et al. Prevalence of tobacco use in urban, semi urban and rural areas in and around Chennai city, India. PloS One 2013;8(10):e76005.
- Bagchi NN, Ganguly S, Pal S, et al. A study on smoking and associated psychosocial factors among adolescent students in Kolkata, India. Indian J Public Health 2014;58(1):50-3.
- National Institute of Medical statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research. Integrated disease surveillance preoject: noncommunicable disease rsik factors survey-Phase 1 (2007-08). 2009.
- Kelkar DS, Patwardhan M, Joshi VD. Prevalence and causalities of tobacco consumption (TC) among adolescents: a cross sectional study at Pune. J Assoc Physicians India 2013;61(3):174-8.
- Awasthi S, Jha SK, Pandey S, et al. Correlates of tobacco use among male adolescents in schools of Haldwani, Nainital. Health Popul Perspect Issues 2010;33(1):42-9.
References
Non communicable diseases. [Cited 2022 May 23]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases
Mathers CD, Loncar D. Projections of global mortality and burden of disease from 2002 to 2030. Plos Med 2006;3(11):e442.
Morgenstern M, Sargent JD, Engels RCME, et al. Smoking in European adolescents: relation between media influences, family affluence, and migration background. Addict Behav 2013;38(10):2589-95.
Akseer N, Mehta S, Wigle J, et al. Non-communicable diseases among adolescents: current status, determinants, interventions and policies. BMC Public Health 2020;20(1):1908.
Kumar R, Raizada A, Aggarwal AK, et al. Adolescent behaviour regarding reproductive health. Indian J Pediatr 2000;67(12):877-82.
Early and late adolescence. http://www.unicef.org/sowc2011/pdfs/Early-and-late-adolescence.pdf
CDC Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2019. [cited 2022 May 24]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/gshs/index.htm
Sogarwal R, Bachani D, Kumar B, et al. Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases among Higher Secondary School Students in Selected Districts of India. Am J Public Health Res 2014;2(1):16-20.
Narain R, Sardana S, Gupta S, et al. Age at initiation & prevalence of tobacco use among school children in Noida, India: A cross-sectional questionnaire based survey. Indian J Med Res 2011;133(3):300-7.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2009.
World Health Organization. GSHS India (CBSE) 2007 Fact Sheet 2007:1–2.
Singh AK, Maheshwari A, Sharma N, et al. Lifestyle associated risk factors in adolescents. Indian J Pediatr 2006;73(10):901-6.
Da Silva KS, Lopes ADS, Vasques DG, et al. Clustering of risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases among adolescents: prevalence and associated factors. Rev Paul Pediatr 2012;30(3):338-45.
Parsekar SS, Ashok L, Monteiro AD, et al. Modifiable life style associated risk factors for non communicable diseases among students of pre-university college of Udupi taluk. Glob J Med Public Health 2015;4(2).
Mohan S, Sarma PS, Thankappan KR. Access to pocket money and low educational performance predict tobacco use among adolescent boys in Kerala, India. Prev Med 2005;41(2):685-92.
Devi GMI, Mathew E, Manjula VD, et al. Prevalence and determinants of tobacco, alcohol and drug use among adolescent school children in an urban area Kottayam District Kerala. J Evol Med Dent Sci 2014;3(36):9456-64.
Narain R, Sardana S, Gupta S, et al. Age at initiation & prevalence of tobacco use among school children in Noida, India: a cross-sectional questionnaire based survey. Indian J Med Res 2011;133(3):300-7.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. Tobacco Use Among Students And Teachers. Findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) and Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS) India 2003-2009. WHO 2009.
Singh V, Pal HR, Mehta M, et al. Tobacco consumption and awareness of their health hazards amongst lower income group school children in National Capital Territory of Delhi. Indian Pediatr 2007;44(4):293-5.
Chockalingam K, Vedhachalam C, Rangasamy S, et al. Prevalence of tobacco use in urban, semi urban and rural areas in and around Chennai city, India. PloS One 2013;8(10):e76005.
Bagchi NN, Ganguly S, Pal S, et al. A study on smoking and associated psychosocial factors among adolescent students in Kolkata, India. Indian J Public Health 2014;58(1):50-3.
National Institute of Medical statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research. Integrated disease surveillance preoject: noncommunicable disease rsik factors survey-Phase 1 (2007-08). 2009.
Kelkar DS, Patwardhan M, Joshi VD. Prevalence and causalities of tobacco consumption (TC) among adolescents: a cross sectional study at Pune. J Assoc Physicians India 2013;61(3):174-8.
Awasthi S, Jha SK, Pandey S, et al. Correlates of tobacco use among male adolescents in schools of Haldwani, Nainital. Health Popul Perspect Issues 2010;33(1):42-9.