Prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke among higher secondary school students in Ernakulam District, Kerala, Southern India

Abstract

Introduction:The association between secondhand smoke and health outcomes, such as frequent respiratory infections, ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, asthma, and stroke, has long been established. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of secondhand smoking exposure among higher secondary school students in Ernakulam district, Kerala, Southern India.Materials and Methods:A structured questionnaire was administered to all students from four randomly selected higher secondary schools in Ernakulam district. Descriptive statistics was done using frequencies and percentages. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done for factors associated with household exposure to tobacco smoke generating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results:A total of 629 students participated in the study. The prevalence of ever smokers was 11.9% and of current smokers was 5.2%. Among the study participants, 23.2% were exposed to secondhand smoking from a family member and 18.8% from friends. Lower educational status of father was associated with the household exposure to secondhand smoke (adjusted OR 4.51 [95% CI 1.66–12.22]). More than half of the study participants (56.3%) reported that they were exposed to cigarette smoke in past 1 week in a public place and 10.2% in closed public places. Nearly one-third of the students reported that they have seen somebody smoking inside school campus in the past 30 days.Conclusion:Exposure to secondhand smoke at home, schools, and public places was higher among the late adolescent higher secondary school students in Ernakulam district. The findings underscore the urgent need for increased efforts to implement the strategies to reduce secondhand smoke exposure among adolescents.

Exposure to Passive Smoke among Residents of a Rural Population in a District of Northern India

“…Similar findings were also reported in previous studies. [13,14] This could further be supported as the highest proportion of individuals exposed to passive smoke were married. Similar findings were also reported by Xiao Gong and his colleagues.…”

“…This was in accordance to the findings of previous studies. [13,14] Also the proportion of individuals exposed to passive smoke both at home and work places belonged to lower middle and below socioeconomic strata. This might be attributed to the nature of occupation, housing characteristics and other baseline variables.…”

Alcoholism among Dental Students

“…This gathering, in spite of having accomplished the objective of endorsement at the determination test, can give issues pressure and are inclined to utilize sedates all in all. (Rakesh et al, 2017) Over the top utilization of liquor is a repetitive example among college students. This example varies from others since this particular populace has created commonplace examples of liquor use and its dangers are identiied with drinking excessively, with normal prac- tices that af irm it.…”

“…Motivating forces and resilience from the relatives for the demonstration of drinking, particularly the individuals from the family core, give adequate help for young people to devour alcohol. (Rakesh et al, 2017) Companions and partners were the individuals who offered the main portion of liquor to most of the respondents. In any case, it is seen that the spot of the principal portion was their own home for the greater part, which af irms the complicity of the family members.…”

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“…However, most of studies regarding smoking hazards and SHS were conducted in well-developed parts of the world. While these studies have been increased recently in less developed countries [ 16 , 17 ], the study about SHS avoidance behavior has been limited in number. The Schwartz study [ 18 ] was one rare exception to this trend, but it focused on Canadian adolescents.…”