Publication:

Prevalence of cigarette smoking among adolescent boys of Srinagar: a school based cross sectional Survey

Background Tobacco use is one biggest health hazards in the world posing various physical and psychosocial risks. At a moment the spread of tobacco use is growing at fast rate in the adolescents, who are the future of the country. However, little information is known about the magnitude of tobacco use in adolescents. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of cigarette smoking among adolescents of Srinagar city.

Methods This school based cross sectional study was conducted from June 2015 to March 2017 in 20 high schools selected randomly from public and private sectors. Students (boys only) [n=1200] from grade 9-12, in the age limit of 13-19 were included in the study. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire that is adapted from global youth tobacco survey questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were made using logistic regression on SPSS version 20.0 software in order to predict factors associated with tobacco use.

Results The prevalence of cigarette smoking among adolescent boys was found to be 29% ever smokers, and 23% current smokers. In addition, more than half [60.8%] of adolescents were exposed to tobacco smoke from others in public places. In the multivariate analysis parent smoking, peer smoking, exposure to movie with actors smoking, not being exposed to anti-smoking media messages, not discussing in the class about danger of smoking, were significantly associated with current cigarette smoking among adolescents.

Conclusions The prevalence rate is increasing in its spread, exposure to environmental tobacco exposure is widespread. Moreover adolescents should be enriched with the knowledge on the dangers of tobacco use.