Pattern of tobacco use among school children in National Capital Territory (NCT).
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2007-11-07
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OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence, consumption patterns and correlates of tobacco use among adolescent SZI children in Government schools in the National Capital territory of Delhi.
METHODS: Thirty schools in National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, India, were selected by two stage cluster random design and population proportionate to size sampling (PPS) methodology. A sample of 3,422 children in the age group of 10-18 years studying in the 30 middle and senior secondary Government schools in NCT of Delhi were studied. Each student was administered a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire.
RESULTS: Overall 9.8% of the study children had at least once experimented with any form of tobacco in their lifetime. The proportion of children who were current users of tobacco products was 5.4% (boys: 4.6%, Girls: 0.8%). Current users differed from abstainers in location of their schools, category of school, class, gender, hobbies, not having friends, having tobacco users in family and school etc.
CONCLUSION: Consumption of tobacco amongst adolescents is an emerging health problem in Delhi. A number of variables seem to differentiate between the current users and abstainers. Tobacco use in family and school environment is a mutable factor that should be focused in tobacco reduction campaigns. Encouraging friendship has a protective influence. There is a need for similar studies in other metropolitan cities of the country.
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Singh V, Pal HR, Mehta M, Dwivedi SN, Kapil U. Pattern of tobacco use among school children in National Capital Territory (NCT). Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2007 Nov; 74(11): 1013-20