Prevalence of tobacco use and effect of restrictions on smoking at home, at school, and in public places on teenagers in Lucknow City: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: This study focused on the estimation of the prevalence of tobacco use among school-going students (between the age of 14 and 17 years) and to determine the relation between the extent of restrictions on smoking at home, at school, and in public places. Materials and Methods: A total of 310 school students of Lucknow aged 14–17 years were selected by the convenient sample design. A specifically designed questionnaire was used for determining the relation between the extent of restrictions on smoking at home, at school, and in public places and smoking uptake and smoking prevalence among school students. A cross-sectional survey with merged records of extent of restrictions on smoking in public places was done. The collected data were analyzed and tested for significance using the Statistical Software Package, SPSS software for windows (version 23.0). Descriptive statistics were used to measure the frequency distribution with a P value 0.05. Results: More restrictive arrangements on smoking at home were associated with a greater likelihood of being in an earlier stage of smoking uptake. Based on the questionnaire on the tobacco restriction, 93.9% admitted to having complete restriction on smoking at home, 42.1% had school ban, and 42.1% had strong school ban, whereas 57.9% had no or weak ban 97.7% of the participants followed the restriction on smoking at the public places (P value 0.001). Conclusion: The restrictions at home and public places and enforced bans in schools have a protective effect on teenage smoking.

Keywords

• home
• public place ban
• school restriction
• smoking
• smoking ban