Assessment Of The Knowledge And Attitude Regarding Tobacco And Its Use Among Students In Belagavi City: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: To assess the knowledge and attitude regarding tobacco and its use among adolescent students in Belagavi city

Material and methods: A descriptivecross-sectional study was conducted in the school children for the period of 2 months.200 students were included in this study. A pre-structured and pretested questionnaire containing the following information was used to collect the data.  Data on age, gender, grade, parent’s education and occupation, current use of tobacco products among students, knowledge, attitude and perceptions regarding the use of tobacco and tobacco products were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire.

Results: A total of 200 students participated in the study with a mean age of 14.84 ± 4.2 years. Knowledge regarding tobacco content in various products differed with the product. The presence of tobacco in cigarettes, gutka and bidi was known to 85.5%, 88.5% and 75% of the students respectively. The students lacked knowledge regarding snuff and khaini being tobacco products (23.5% and 30% respectively). History of use of tobacco in family members was seen in 15%. About 10% of students had friends who consumed tobacco products. About 4% of the students thought that tobacco is not harmful.Correct knowledge regarding the hazards of passive smoking was present among 87% of the students and 65% of students were aware of law against smoking in public places. Government rules to keep a check on tobacco sale was reported by 55.5% of the students and 58.5% knew that danger signs of using tobacco product are printed on the package of the product.

Conclusion: The knowledge of the students is relatively inadequate which can lead to unfavourable attitudes towards tobacco use. This indicates that theabove-discussedcorrelatesneedstobeaddressedso that education imparted to these students has apositive impact and prevents them from taking upthesehabits in thefuture.