Smokeless tobacco consumption among school children.

BACKGROUND: More than one-third of the tobacco consumed regionally is of smokeless form. AIMS: To determine the prevalence and pattern of smokeless tobacco use among school children. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was conducted among children in 5 randomly selected high schools in Kannur district, Kerala, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1200 children. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: PASW 17 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 14.4 years with a standard deviation (SD) of 1.2 years, and 8.5% (CI, 7.1-10.2) of the participants were tobacco users. Smokeless tobacco was used by 2% (CI, 1.2-3.4) of the participants. None of the female students used tobacco products. Among the tobacco users, the mean age at the start of any tobacco use was 12.8 years with an SD of 1.1 years. The minimum age was 12 years and the maximum was 14 years. More than 50% smokeless tobacco users started their habit at the age of 12 years; 38.5% of them started at the age of 13 years and remaining at the age of 14 years. The 84.6% smokeless tobacco users were using it 2-3 times a week and 39% of them revealed that the tobacco products were purchased from shops located near the schools. Among the users, one used to keep the quid in the mouth for more than half an hour. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that there is a need to educate the children regarding the hazards associated with tobacco consumption.

Need to establish tobacco smoke zones in public places in Kerala.

BACKGROUND: Second-hand smoke is a grave hazard to both smokers and nonsmokers. AIMS: To assess the attitude of general public toward establishing smoke zones in public places. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among people residing in one randomly selected municipality of Kannur district in Kerala state, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1000 individuals participated in the study. An open-ended, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire, which was pilot tested was used to collect information from people willing to participate in the study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics was used. Statistical analysis was performed by using PASW 17. RESULTS: 73.1% of the total participants indicated a positive attitude toward establishing smoke zones in public places. All female participants and 69.7% of male participants had positive attitude toward establishing smoke zones in public places. Most nonsmokers (83.2%) showed a positive attitude toward establishing smoke zones. A statistically significant (P < 0.001) association was observed between smoking habit and attitude toward establishing smoke zones in public places. Among males, a statistically significant (P < 0.001) association was observed between age and attitude toward the need for smoke zones. As age increased, the attitude toward establishing tobacco smoke zone in public places was found to become more positive. CONCLUSION: Most of the participants had positive attitude to prohibition of smoking in public places in order to safe guard the public from the harmful effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke.

Scope and extent of participation of female volunteers in tobacco control activities in Kerala, India.

BACKGROUND: In India, NGOs play a key role in creating a supportive environment for the control of tobacco consumption. AIMS: This study was conducted to assess the scope and the extent to which community-based women organizations are involved in tobacco control activities. To assess the scope and extent of participation in tobacco control activities according to the sociodemographic characteristics and also the extent to which they have participated in tobacco control activities. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The participants were Kudumbasree volunteers from the rural areas of Kannur district of Kerala state, India. This population-based study adopted a cross-sectional design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-administered, structured, close-ended, pre-tested questionnaire was prepared and used to collect data from 1000 female volunteers who participated in the study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test was used to compare nonparametric variables, such as education, marital status, and age with attitude toward tobacco control activities. RESULTS: Age of the participants ranged from 17 to 53 years. The association between education level and positive attitude to participate in tobacco control activities was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001). A statistically significant association between participation in tobacco control activities and marital status (P < 0.001) was observed. With regard to education and readiness/willingness to participate in tobacco control activities, in all the education groups more than 90% were willing to participate in tobacco control activities. Among the ever married participants, 98% were willing to participate in antitobacco activities. Old age, husband working in a beedi factory, or not being able to make frequent visits were the reasons reported for their unwillingness of the remaining people. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, a set of Kudumbasree volunteers were trained in tobacco and health to work in the community.