title: Prevalence and correlates of tobacco use among 10-12 year old school students in Patna District, Bihar, India.
abstract: In order to assess the prevalence and correlates of tobacco use among school students (10-12 years), information on tobacco use and socio-demographic variables was collected from 1626 students (male 1027) using a questionnaire. Bivariate and multiple regression analysis were done. Ever users in the sample were 16.6% (95 % CI 14.8, 18.4) and current users were 5.1 % (95 % CI 4.1, 61). Current use was significantly associated with male sex (OR 2.3, CI 1.09 5.14), students not participating in sports (OR 2, CI 1.04 4.04), tobacco use among friends (OR 4, CI 2.02 8.25), unaware of harmful effects of tobacco (OR 2.6, CI 1.1 6.14) and students who were used by parents and teachers to buy tobacco for them (OR 2.1, CI 1.4 4.19). Tobacco control programs focusing on male students, those who do not participate in sports, those whose friends use tobacco and those who are used by parents and teachers to buy tobacco are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Achutha Menon Center for Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Gupteshwar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Thankappan
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless