Study on the Use of Tobacco among Adolescents at UHTC Sharifganj–A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Children smoke their first cigarette while attending middle or High school, though generally, smoking is most likely to begin during adolescence.The use of tobacco among adolescents is a significant public health concern due to its association with numerous health risks and the potential for long-term addiction.According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in 2016-17, the overall prevalence of smoking tobacco use is 10.38% and smokeless tobacco use is 21.38% in India.The aim is to conduct a cross-sectional study on the use of tobacco among adolescents at UHTC Sharif Ganj.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2024 at Sharifganj (urban health training centre, Katihar Medical College), Katihar, among 300 adolescents between the age of 13-16 years using stratified random sampling.The data was collected using a pre-designed & pre-tested questionnaire and was analyzed using epi info.Results: Among the studied population, 24% (71) were consuming tobacco, of which the maximum was around 16 years (n=46), i.e., 33.3%.Smoking was the most preferred way of consuming tobacco (n=30 ), i.e., 42.3%. Conclusion:The findings of this study underscore the widespread use of tobacco among adolescents and highlight key demographic and social factors associated with tobacco use.Various interventions like Educational campaigns, Role model engagement, and socio-economic interventions were adopted to curb this trend.