Prevalence and risk factors associated with substance use in children: A questionnaire-based survey in two cities of Uttar Pradesh, India.

BACKGROUND: There is a sharp increase of substance use, particularly tobacco and alcohol, among schoolchildren. AIMS: A study was undertaken to assess the prevalence, age of initiation, and determinants for the uptake of tobacco and alcohol habits among ever-user students. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among school students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information on alcohol and tobacco use, age at initiation, peer influence, reason of initiation, etc., was collected from students of class 7th-12th(ages: 11-19 years) studying in schools of Noida and Ghaziabad cities, through a pretested self-administered questionnaire through multistage sampling design. Univariate analysis was done to assess the significance of various determinants. RESULTS: "Ever use of substance" (alcohol or tobacco) was found in 14.3% students and was 1.2 times more among boys in comparison to girls (P < 0.05). About 29.5% of these students initiated the habit before 11 years of age and its prevalence was significantly more among boys from government schools as compared to private schools. The habits were 2.2, 3.8, and 4.6 fold higher among students if the father, mother, siblings, or friends also used substances. Substance use was less frequent among children of white-collared father and more educated parents. One-third of students up took the habit to make friends. CONCLUSION: The rising prevalence of substance use among students is a threat to the society. Introducing a "substance use prevention policy" in schools to educate students about various adverse effects and refusal skills may help curb this menace.

Risk factors associated with tobacco habits among adolescents: a cross-sectional school-based study.

BACKGROUND: The increase in tobacco use among adolescents in India is fraught with serious public health implications. The knowledge of factors which influence this habit could assist in tackling this problem. Hence, we aimed to determine factors associated with tobacco use among school students. METHODS: The increase in tobacco use among adolescents in India is fraught with serious public health implications. The knowledge of factors which influence this habit could assist in tackling this problem. Hence, we aimed to determine factors associated with tobacco use among school students. RESULTS: Of the 4786 students, 'current tobacco use' was reported by 197 (4.1%) students; 107 (2.2%) were exclusive smokers, 49 (1%) were exclusive tobacco chewers and 41 (0.9%) used both forms of tobacco. Tobacco use was less frequent among children of white collar than blue collar fathers (p<0.05) and also among children of more educated than less educated mothers (p<0.05). Tobacco use of father, mother, siblings and friends had a significant association with the student's tobacco use. The habits were 10.6-, 6.4-, 3.1- fold higher among students if they bought tobacco for teachers, brothers, father/relatives, respectively. Among tobacco users, 31.5% adopted these habits to refresh themselves, 45.9% preferred smoking outside home and 61% were influenced by actors smoking in films. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic status, family and peer influence play an important role in students using tobacco.

Age at initiation & prevalence of tobacco use among school children in Noida, India: a cross-sectional questionnaire based survey.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Tobacco use among school children is becoming a serious problem in developing countries. The early age of initiation underscores the urgent need to intervene and protect this vulnerable group from falling prey to this addiction. The present study was thus undertaken to assess the prevalence of tobacco habits among school children, determine the age of initiation of these habits, and compare the age of initiation between students who were more than 15 and ≤ 15 yr of age. METHODS: Data on tobacco use were collected from 4786 students of class 7 to 12 (age: 11-19 yr) studying in different private and government schools of Noida city during July- December 2005, through cluster and random sampling using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Any kind of tobacco use was found in 537 (11.2%) students; 419 (8.8%) were 'ever smokers (including current smokers)' 219 (4.6%) were 'ever tobacco chewers (including current chewers)', 179 (3.7%) were 'exclusive smokers' and 118 (2.5%) were 'exclusive tobacco chewers'. The mean age of initiation of these habits was around 12.4 yr. More than 50 per cent of tobacco chewers reported use of khaini at least once. Nearly 70 per cent of boys and 80 per cent of girls ≤ 15 yr initiated the habit of tobacco before the age of 11 yr. A significant early uptake of tobacco chewing was reported from private school students as compared to government school students (P<0.05). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco addiction is emerging as a big threat among children. Our findings indicate a recent downward shift in the age at initiation of tobacco uptake and rising prevalence among girls. Such data need to be collected from different parts of the country to develop anti-tobacco campaigns and take policy decision.

Comparison of respiratory morbidity between present and ex-workers of quartz crushing units: Healthy workers' effect.

BACKGROUND: Quartz stone grinders are one such group of workers who are exposed to silica and thereby at risk of developing silicosis. However due to increased campaigning against silicosis the scenario has changed. OBJECTIVES: To compare the respiratory morbidities among the present quartz stone workers and the ex-quartz stone workers who have left the job. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included, 134 ex-workers and 182 current workers of quartz grinding units. All these subjects were subjected to chest radiography and pulmonary function tests. RESULTS: For 134 ex-workers, the mean age was 31.77 ± 9.99 years and the mean duration of exposure was found to be 2.74 ± 1.65 years while for the present workers, the mean age was 26.74± 7.12 years while the mean duration of exposure was 1.36 ± 2.68 years. The study revealed silicosis in 24 (17.9%), radiological suspected tuberculosis in 17 (12.7%) and silico-tuberculosis in 33 (24.7%) ex-workers while in present workers, radiological suspected tuberculosis in 10 (5.5%) subjects and silicosis grade 1/1 in one subject were found. Among the ex-workers, 14 (10.4%) had a combined type of pulmonary function impairment while 8 (6.0%) and 28 (20.9%) were having restrictive and obstructive type of pulmonary impairments, respectively. Among the present workers, pulmonary function testing revealed the combined type of functional impairment in 1 (0.5%), restrictive type in 13 (7.1%), and obstructive type of functional impairment in 17 (9.2%) subjects. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of respiratory morbidity in ex-workers as compared to current workers can be attributed to the out-of-the-job healthy workers' effect.

Spirometric measurements among quartz stone ex-workers of Gujarat, India.

The present cross sectional study was carried out among 134 ex-workers from quartz stone crushing units. Using the interview technique as a tool for data collection, demographic and occupational details of the subjects were recorded on the predesigned proforma. Standard diagnostic criteria were used for diagnosing silicosis and silico-tuberculosis. The pulmonary functions of the subjects were measured with Spirovit SP-10. The mean age of the males was found to be 33.18 +/- 10.39 yr and that of the females was 30.10 +/- 9.3 yr and for the whole group was 31.77 +/- 9.99 yr. Mean duration of exposure was 2.74 +/- 1.65 yr. The study variables included age, sex, duration of exposure, smoking and respiratory morbidity. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) which suggests lung parenchymal disorders was found to be significantly reduced with female sex, presence of smoking, increasing duration of exposure and presence of pneumoconiosis, whereas the lung function parameters indicating the status of airways were found to be significantly reduced with all the factors. Therefore, it was concluded that quartz stone workers exposed to approximately 100% free silica had deteriorated lung function which can be attributed mainly to respiratory disorders along with other epidemiological factors such as age, sex, duration of exposure and smoking.