Tobacco Use in School Going Adolescents of District Srinagar of Kashmir

Over the past four decades, tobacco use has caused an estimated 12 million deaths in the world, including 4.1 million deaths from cancer, 5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases, 2.1 million deaths from respiratory diseases and 94, 000 infant deaths related to mothers smoking during pregnancy. According to the WHO, tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally. Adolescent tobacco use is a complex behavior factors like, social bonding, social learning, lacking refusal skills, risk-taking attitudes and intentions have been highlighted as reasons for the onset of tobacco use in studies in developed countries. Aims & Objectives This study was taken to find the prevalence of tobacco use in school going adolescents of district Srinagar of Kashmir valley and to provide awareness about tobacco hazards to the adolescents in schools. Methodology A cross sectional study was taken in school going adolescents of district Srinagar.6 schools were taken using simple random sampling and total sample of 100 was achieved through PPS technique. Results Of the 39 male students and 61 females 5 (12.8 %) of males and 5 (8.2 %) of females had ever tried or smoked tobacco and majority 34 (87.2 %) of males and 56 (91.8 %) of females had never tried it. Among respondents who ever-smoked had 8 (80 %) of their closest friends also smokers as compared to non-smokers who had only 18 (20 %) of their friends smokers while as 2 (20 %) and 72 (80 %) of their friends were non-smokers respectively. This difference was statistically highly significant (less than0.01).