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Tobacco use among adolescent students and the influence of role models
oleh: Sharma Rahul, Grover Vijay, Chaturvedi Sanjay
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2010-01-01 |
Deskripsi
<b>Background:</b> Seventy per cent of premature deaths among adults are due to behavioral patterns that emerge in adolescence, including smoking. <b>Objective:</b> The objective was to study the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescent students in South Delhi and its epidemiological correlates. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This was a cross-sectional study. <b>Setting:</b> Three schools and two colleges of South Delhi were chosen. There were 550 adolescent students aged 14-19. <b>Statistical Analysis:</b> Statistical analysis was done using proportions, the chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression. <b>Results:</b> A total of 88 (16.0%) students reported having ever tried cigarette or bidi smoking. The prevalence of current smoking was 7.1%. Exactly 10% (55) of the students reported having ever used smokeless forms of tobacco. The prevalence of tobacco use overall was found to be 20.9%, and was significantly higher (<i>P</i>=0.016) among the males than the females. Tobacco use was found to be significantly associated with having seen a brother/sister smoke (OR 5.15), best friend smoke (OR 2.92), and belonging to a nuclear family (OR 1.96). <b>Conclusions:</b> Tobacco use is still an important risk behavior among adolescent students. This study found a strong association of tobacco use by the adolescents with their having seen various role models ever smoking.