Second hand smoke: awareness and acceptability among school going adolescents In India
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1
AIIMS, Community Medicine & Family Medicine, India
2
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India
3
Natinal Center for Disease Control and Public Health, India
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A953
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ABSTRACT
Background:
Exposure to second hand smoke among school going adolescents is a public
health problem and is associated with higher prevalence of tobacco use. It is
important to understand the possible sources and the attitude among adolescents which
increases the risk of such exposure.
Objectives: To assess exposure and attitude of school going adolescents towards second hand smoke (SHS).
Methods:
Cross-sectional
survey of school going adolescents from
class VII to XII was conducted for a school in India which is supported by para- military
forces to ensure quality education to children of para-military personnel's. Simple
random sampling was used to select
single section from classes VII to XII and data was collected for all
students in selected section using Global Youth Tobacco Scale (GYTS).
Results:
Exposure to second hand smoke in past one week inside home was found to be 45% and in public places 76.6%. Majority
participants (50.3%) reported smoking by one or more close friends. Though
smoking from other people was reported to be
harmful ( 89% ) and discussion
about harmful effects of smoking is
carried out by school authorities (73.2%)
and families (75.9%) of adolescents yet attitude towards SHS among adolescents is favorable and is considered helpful in enhancing socialization among boys (73.10%)
and making personality attractive among girls.
Conclusions:
Second hand smoking either due to exposure in home
or outside home is substantially high in school adolescent in India. Strategies
designed to reduce smoking among school adolescents need to specially target
positive image associated with smokers