| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 4 | Page : 242-245 |
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Prevelance of tobacco use among school children reporting to dental hospital for treatment
Utkarsha Basakhetre1, Ashish Jaiswal2, Shravani Deolia2, Sourav Sen2, Malsawm Dawngliani2, Arpan Jaiswal2
1 Sharad Pawar Dental College, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
2 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Utkarsha Basakhetre
Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jdmimsu.jdmimsu_28_18
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Objective: The objectives of this study are to study the pattern of tobacco use in Indian school children aged 10–15 years in Wardha district and to study the role of psychosocial factors in initiation and prevention. Materials and Methods: A descriptive questionnaire cross-sectional study to evaluate the patterns of tobacco use in India among school children aged 10–15 in Wardha district. Results: Of the total of 1000 children selected, 5.9% were tobacco users and out of these 3.7% claimed to be addicted to it. Among the habitués, the mean age of initiation of tobacco use was 11.65 ± 2.62. The possible causes being peer pressure (35.08%), tension (49.12%), to achieve the aim (5.26%) and influence from parents (10.52%). Among the habitués, a mean number of 2.71 ± 2.03 children were using tobacco regularly with the range of 1–5 times per day. Conclusion: The peer group influence was the reason for initiating this habit in majority of the users. It is better to prevent the initiation of the habit than trying to stop the habit. The present study suggests the need for school-based tobacco prevention programs. Joint efforts from family, school, and social welfare groups are needed to address these factors for effective prevention, in addition to raising awareness against tobacco use among the school students.
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