ARTICLE
ABSTRACT
Background: Tobacco use, which is the cause of several respiratory diseases, generally starts in the teens. Therefore, we have examined the risk of respiratory symptoms with major focus upon active and passive smoke exposure in adults among the persons living in the newly-formed Jharkhand State of Eastern India. An intensive survey is an initiative to investigate the tobacco use in various age groups especially in adults.
Methods: The questionnaire data of the population-based sample (n = 600) was analyzed. Multiple regression models were carried out to study the current respiratory health as dependent variables, whereas Tobacco Intake, Continuous Tobacco use, Age, Education level, Job Category, Income, General Health and Past Health of the tobacco users in the study area as independent variables after adjusting for age, gender, smoking and socioeconomic status. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16.0 software and the results accounted are based upon the analysis obtained from the Multiple Regression, Chi-square test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Test.
Results: Out of the total 700 distributed questionnaires, 600 of them were accurately filled and therefore considered for the present investigation. As per our analysis, about 66.5% of the adult population exposed to tobacco is defined by the 18-25 years while 21% as defined by the 26-33 years. Of this, 38% of the reported individuals were “students” who were exposed either to the tobacco smoking or chewing.
Conclusion: The Eastern India, especially the Jharkhand state, has a huge problem of widespread tobacco use in both forms among adults, particularly among the 18-25 year age group. The prevalence of smoking is higher among rural population, while the school and college going youth are affected in the ratio of 38% from tobacco exposure in the Ranchi province.
KEYWORDS
Tobacco Use, Respiratory Health, Environmental Tobacco smoke, Tobacco control, Intensive Survey.
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