Journal of Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
Open Access

Abstract

Tobacco Use among School Students in National Capital Territory of Delhi

Preeti Soni and Raut DK

The progressive increase in the consumption of tobacco amongst adolescents is emerging as a complex and multidimensional problem. It continues to occupy a premier position as public health concern in almost all countries. Tobacco is the most common hazardous substance because it is legally available, heavily promoted and widely consumed by our future generations.

Objective: The objective was to study the prevalence and influencing factors of tobacco use among adolescent students in NCT of Delhi.

Materials and methods: Descriptive research design has been taken for the present study. The study seeks to describe the factors that could influence the pattern of tobacco consumption among school students. “Non Probability Sampling” has been used for selection of sample, lack of availability of coeducational schools in every district and permission of principals and parents for the study were excluded the use of probability sampling for the selection of sample.

Setting: One government co-educational school form every 12 districts of education board of Delhi were chosen. 50 students from each school and there were 600 adolescent students aged 14-18 years.

Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis was done with help of SPSS.

Results: Overall prevalence of consumption of tobacco among boys was 50.2% and among girls it was 23.3%. The mean age of initiation of tobacco use was 12 years. Majority (78%) of the students reported that they do not know about any programme or law on Tobacco. Only few (22%) students talked about the knowledge of ban for selling of tobacco to the minor. Stress and anxiety (20.7%), was more prevalent among tobacco users students than their counter part. Tobacco users also found problem of sweating (18.7%), poor relations (14.9%) and habit of telling lie (11.2%). They also found much weaker with loss of appetite, followed by 29.9% having cold and cough problem, 25.8% fever/ body ache.

Conclusion: Consumption of tobacco is an emerging social and public health problem and there is a need to sensitize parents, teachers and students towards the ill-effects of tobacco.