Tobacco Addiction Amongst Adolescents in Rural Areas of District Wardha

From the Department of Community medicine, M G I M S, Sewagram, Maharashtra Correspondence to : Dr. Surekha Kishore, Professor, Deptt. of Community Medicine, HIMS, Swami Rama Nagar, Dehradun (Uttaranchal) Abstract The present study was conducted in order to find out the use of tobacco amongst adolescents in a village of Wardha district. From the total 2200 population covered, 474 (21.54%) were adolescents {boys 216 (45.57%) and girls 258 (54.43%)}. Majority of the adolescent boys and girls were from unitary family. About 152 boys (70.37%) were using tobacco and remaining boys were non-user of tobacco. About 70 girls were using tobacco and 188 were non-users. Majority of the boys were engaged in tobacco chewing and smoking (69.74% & 17.1% respectively), whereas majority of the girls were found to be practicing other methods of tobacco use (Nas / Mishri, etc.). The exposure of the habit of tobacco use in adolescent was influenced by various factors like peer pressure, friends, elders, boys trying to follow hero images, feel great and powerful when smoking and for fun. Key W ords Gutkha, Smokeless tobacco, Tobacco smoking, Peer pressure