Socio-demographic profile of tobacco consuming students in age group of 15 to25 years in Jammu region

---

Original Article

Author Details : Neha Choudhary, Rakesh Bahl*

Volume : 6, Issue : 4, Year : 2019

Article Page : 214-219

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijfcm.2019.047

Suggest article by email

---

Abstract

Introduction: Consumption of tobacco leads to a myriad of ill effects among the smokers as well as those in their proximity. This study was conducted in the population in the age group of 15-24 years, the vulnerable period of life when   most of health-related behaviours develop.

Materials and Methods: 1.Study design: Cross- sectional study. 2. Participants: 300 students; 75 each from Schools, degree colleges, professional colleges and post graduate  departments of  University of Jammu, in the age group of 15- 24 years  belonging to different regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. 3. Sampling: Stratified Systemic Sampling technique. 4. Study instrument: A subset of key questions from Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2^nd edition.

Results: Prevalence of smoking was 11.33%. Non indulgence in smoking was seen among students aged below 16 years, and was seen to be twice among over 20 years (16.77%) as compared to 17-19 years group (9.37%). Among male students, it was ten- times (20.66%) higher than females (2%). It was higher in government than in private institutions (13.33% vs. 9.33%). Prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption was 2%; 3.35% in ?20 years age group, 1.04% among 17-19 years and nil among ?16 year age. Male to female ratio was 5 to 1. Ratio of prevalence in Private institutions to government institutions was more than 3 to 1. 

Conclusion: There is an urgent need to curb the use of tobacco among the sub-groups of students with higher prevalence. This can be achieved by strengthening political and administrative will, implementing tobacco free school guidelines and establishing effective multi-sectoral coordination, as tobacco control is beyond the scope of health department.

Keywords: Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, Global Adult Tobacco Survey, Non Communicable Diseases.

How to cite : Choudhary N, Bahl R , Socio-demographic profile of tobacco consuming students in age group of 15 to25 years in Jammu region. Indian J Forensic Community Med 2019;6(4):214-219

This is an Open Access (OA) journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.