Patterns of tobacco use amongst school teachers.
Indulgence in tobacco is a known health risk. The example of school teachers in this regard is likely to have far reaching influence on their pupils and the community. A cross sectional study among 257 teachers from 30 schools revealed that as high as 51.0% teachers consumed tobacco in one form or the other. Smoking was the most popular form of tobacco use (72%). Marked gender differences were noted with 73.9%. Male teachers hooked to tobacco habit in comparison to 13.9% of female teachers. Educational qualification had paradoxical effect on tobacco habit as fewer (20.0%) graduate teachers used tobacco in comparison to non graduate teachers (55.7%). However proportion of Post graduate teachers consuming tobacco was still higher (64.2%). Initiation to tobacco habit in majority began at age 21 years and beyond. Common reasons given for tobacco consumption were curiosity (37.9%), to be social (22.0%), enjoyment (21.2%), to relieve stress (8.17%) and improving performance (5.8%). 21.9% smokers consumed more than 20 cigarettes a day. More than four fifth teachers consciously avoided tobacco use in school premises. Nearly half (45.3%) of tobacco users reported reduction in tobacco use in preceding two years. By and large teachers (92.4%) were aware of harmful consequences of tobacco on health. But only in 29.6% it was a cause for concern. 71.2% respondents intended to give up tobacco habit. 33.7% smokers were aware of hazards of passive smoking to others.
Pandey
G K
GK
Department of Epidemiology, AIIH&PH, Kolkata.
Raut
D K
DK
Hazra
S
S
Vajpayee
A
A
Pandey
A
A
Chatterjee
P
P
D001114:Areca; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*