title: Prisoners' perception of tobacco use and cessation in Chhatisgarh, India--the truth from behind the bars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prisoners represent a population group that is disadvantaged, socially deprived and underprivileged, needing particular attention with regard to provision of necessary oral health care, health promotion and motivation and tobacco cessation. Considering the situation in prisons, smoking and tobacco chewing are burning issues related to health deterioration and economic loss that seem to be overlooked by the public health sectors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess prisoners' perception of tobacco use and cessation in Chhatisgarh, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pre-tested, close ended questionnaire was administered in the form of extensive face to face interviews, to assess perceptions regarding tobacco use and cessation in the central jail of Durg District of Chhattisgarh state, India.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of tobacco usage amongst the prisoners was found to be 61%. Some 27% reported smoking, 44% used tobacco in the chewable form and 29% indulged in consuming tobacco in both forms i.e. smoked as well as chewed. Results suggest several recommendations for policy relevance such as provision of a prison dentist, a tobacco cessation counseling program and targeted eradication of oral cancer by educating the prisoners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health is a fundamental human "right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental well-being". This applies to prisoners just as it does to every other human being. The alarming findings in the study suggest the need for dental treatment facilities and tobacco cessation counseling in prisons.
authors: Department of Public Health Dentistry, K.L.E. Institute of Dental Sciences, Bengaluru, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India E-mail : mgjayachandra@gmail.com.
authors: Ram Vinod
authors: RV
authors: Tiwari
authors: Jayachandra
authors: J
authors: Megalamanegowdru
authors: Abhinav
authors: A
authors: Parakh
authors: Anjali
authors: A
authors: Gupta
authors: Shailarani
authors: S
authors: Gowdruviswanathan
authors: Praveen Malavalli
authors: PM
authors: Nagarajshetty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D009909:Oral Health; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult