title: Indian youth speak about tobacco: results of focus group discussions with school students.
abstract: This article discusses the findings of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) that were conducted as a formative assessment for Project MYTRI (Mobilizing Youth for Tobacco Related Initiatives in India), a randomized, multicomponent, school-based trial to prevent and control tobacco use among youth in India. Forty-eight FGDs were conducted with students (N=435) in sixth and eighth grades in six schools in Delhi, India. Key findings include: (a) students in government schools reported as "consumers" of tobacco, whereas students in private schools reported as "commentators"; (b) parents and peers have a strong influence on youth tobacco use; (c) chewing gutkha is considered less harmful and more accessible than smoking cigarettes; (d) schools are not promoting tobacco control activities; and (e) students were enthusiastic about the role government should play in tobacco control. These findings are being used to develop a comprehensive intervention program to prevent and control tobacco use among Indian youth.
authors.affiliation: Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth HRIDAY, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Arima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Melissa H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Stigler
authors.forename: Kelli A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Komro
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lytle
authors.forename: K Srinath
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011635:Public Health Administration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012574:Schools / Q000592:standards; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012919:Social Behavior; D011049:Social Control Policies; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution