Tobacco use in Kerala: findings from three recent studies.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-119757
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
We reviewed the literature on tobacco use in Kerala and present data from three recently conducted unpublished studies.METHODS:
Three cross-sectional studies were conducted; a community-based study of 1,298 individuals aged 15 years and above (mean age 37.4 years, men 630), a school-based study of 1,323 boys (mean age 14.7 years), and a college-based study of 1,254 male students (mean age 18.2 years). Information on tobacco use and sociodemographic variables was collected using pre-tested, structured interview schedules and questionnaires.RESULTS:
In the community study, 72% of men and 6% of women had ever used tobacco. Compared to men with > 12 years of schooling, those with < 5 years of schooling were 7 times more likely to smoke (OR 7, CI 3.2-15.6). The age at initiation of smoking was 19 years among those < 25 years of age compared to 25.5 years among ever smokers > 44 years. In the school study, the age at initiation among boys aged < or = 1 3 years was 10.7 years compared with 13.2 years among > or = 16-year-old boys. Boys whose fathers and friends used tobacco were 2 times and 2.9 times more likely to use tobacco (OR 2.0, CI 1.3-3.1 and OR 2.9, CI 1.6-5.1), respectively, compared with their counterparts. In the college study, 29% of the commerce students used tobacco compared with 5.3% of polytechnic students (p < 0.001).CONCLUSION:
Survey data suggest that the age at initiation of tobacco use appears to be falling. A series of cross-sectional studies with larger sample sizes of the youth is required to confirm this impression. Tobacco use habits of fathers and peers are significant influences on youth smoking. There is a need to focus on particular types of colleges as these appear to have high-risk tobacco use environments.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Students
/
Tobacco Use Disorder
/
Universities
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Smoking
/
Child
/
Family Characteristics
/
Cross-Sectional Studies
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Qualitative research
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Year:
2005
Type:
Article
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