title: Access to pocket money and low educational performance predict tobacco use among adolescent boys in Kerala, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tobacco use is increasing among adolescents. We conducted this study to find prevalence and correlates of tobacco use among adolescent boys in Trivandrum city, Kerala.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a two-stage cluster sampling technique, 1323 boys (12-19 years) were selected from 14 schools. Information on tobacco use, academic performance, pocket money, and other variables was collected using a questionnaire. Multivariate analyses were done to find associations between current use of tobacco and other variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of current tobacco use was 11.3% (95% CI 9.6-13.0). Current tobacco use was 2.9 times higher among older boys compared to younger boys (OR 2.9, CI 1.6-5.3), 2 times higher among boys whose fathers used tobacco (OR 2.0, CI 1.3-3.1), 2.9 times higher among boys whose friends used tobacco (OR 2.9, CI 1.6-5.1) compared to their counterparts, 3 times higher among boys securing poor (<40% marks) grade compared to those securing excellent (>80% marks) grade (OR 3.0, CI 1.4-6.6), and 4 times higher among those who received pocket money compared to those who did not (OR 4.0, CI 2.2-7.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health programs to quit tobacco are suggested in schools with special emphasis on poor performers, those receiving pocket money, and those whose fathers and friends use tobacco.
authors.affiliation: Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum 695 011, India.
authors.forename: Sailesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sankara Sarma
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Thankappan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D004522:Educational Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000191:economics