Tobacco Use and Effects of Professional Advice on Smoking Cessation among Youth in India

Abstract

<br /> <strong><span style="font-size: small;">Objective: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Healthcare professionals and addiction programs play important roles in tobacco use prevention and cessation activities. In this study, we analyzed the prevalence of tobacco use and the impact of smoking cessation advice through programs/professionals among a nationally representative sample of youth in India. </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Methods: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The data were obtained from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2009 dataset from a nationally representative school based survey of 8th to 10th grade students in India (n=14,543). Professional or provider advice for smoking cessation was analyzed with reference to quitting smoking. Descriptive analysis was performed for tobacco and smoking prevalence and the types of tobacco products used. Logistic regression was employed to assess any associations between professional or program advice and quitting smoking. </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Results: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The overall prevalence of current tobacco use was 13.5%. About 76% were never tobacco users and 9.3% were former tobacco users. The prevalences of smoking, smokeless tobacco and poly tobacco use among current tobacco users were 35.1%, 43.3% and 21.5% respectively. Among the never smokers, 80% were weakly and 20% were strongly susceptible. Recipients of advice from a program or professional showed higher odds (OR=5.3) of quitting smoking. </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Conclusion: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Professional and program advice to quit smoking is very effective for youth in India. More programs and healthcare professionals must be employed to prevent and encourage youth to abstain from the use of tobacco. </span></span>