IJAR - Indian Journal of Applied Research

Vijayan pillai.H

Volume : V, Issue : II, February - 2015

A Study on the Prevalence, Practice and Knowledge Regarding the Adverse Effects of Tobacco Abuse Among Adolescent Students.

Vijayan Pillai. H,

Abstract :

This study aims to fill that knowledge gap by providing scientific information about the disease of addiction, including the many harmful consequences of tobacco abuse and the basic approaches that have been developed to prevent and treat the disease. And to assess the prevalence of tobacco consumption in a small town in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala state. The number of participants were 45 boys of 10th standard and 45 boys and 20 girls from 12th standard, a total of 110 respondents were answered a questionnaire. A homogeneous group of students from different religion caste and different socio economic level could be included in the study. The sample group was between 15 yrs &ndash; 17 yrs of age. They were having general information regarding the adverse effect of tobacco abuse because they could attend awareness programs from health personal as a part of the educational policy. Respondents&rsquo; awareness was incomplete about the consequences and the diseases by the consumption of tobacco products. The questionnaire has 5 part to know the practice, then frequency of consumption, then triggering factors, then knowledge regarding the adverse effects and finally one question each for the social and legal aspects. Simple statistics measure was used in the study. From 10th standard 11.11% respondents were using Cigarettes and 6.66 % of respondents were using other tobacco products.20% and 24.4% of participants from 12th standard were using cigarettes and other tobacco products respectively. To initiate smoking13.33% of 12th standard participants were influenced by peer group. 100% respondents were aware that the act of smoking in the public place is punishable