| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2020 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 1 | Page : 41-45 |
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Survey Study to assess the awareness and health impact of tobacco addiction in children of Zilla Panchayat Schools of Wardha
Saurabh Ramesh Holani1, Renu B Rathi1, Bharat Rathi2
1 Department of Kaumarbhritya, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurveda College, Hospital and Research Centre, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DU), Wardha, Maharashtra, India
2 Department of Ras shastra-Bhaishajya Kalpana, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurveda College, Hospital and Research Centre, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DU), Wardha, Maharashtra, India
Correspondence Address:
Mr. Saurabh Ramesh Holani
Third Year BAMS Student, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved College, Hospital and Research Centre, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DU), Wardha, Maharashtra.
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/JISM.JISM_11_20
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Background: It is estimated that 5500 adolescents started using tobacco every day in India, joining the 4 million, younger than 15 years of age, who are regularly using tobacco. There is an urgent need for good, scientifically sound data about tobacco use pattern to design preventive strategies, and to create awareness about its hazards and deaddiction. Aims and Objectives: This survey was aimed to assess the physical–mental health impact and psychosocial behavior of tobacco users and to make the children aware about its harmful effects on body, mind, and social impact; also, to search the psychosocial reasons of accepting the addictions in early ages. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire-based survey study was conducted upon 100 children in the age-group 6–16 years of Zilla Parishad schools of Salod and Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. An interview-based interaction was conducted with children consuming tobacco in any form. Observations and Results: Tobacco addiction is emerging as a big threat among children in developing countries. The early age of initiation emphasizes the urgent need to intervene and protect this vulnerable group from falling prey to this addiction. Of 300 students, one-third, that is, 33.33% were affected with addiction and this number may increase due to environment and peer pressure with easy availability and imitating/copying habit of children. Tobacco products mainly Masala Supari, Pan Masala, and tobacco with lime were prevalent in Zilla Parishad schools of Sawangi and Salod, Wardha, Maharashtra, India. As parents beaten and abuse to the addictive children and denied (them) to give money for tobacco purchase still they are so much addicted that they could not live without it. Conclusion: In this survey, tobacco addiction was affecting physical–mental health of 19% participants. No one had developed any major side effects due to addiction. Tobacco use awareness program was undertaken, and schoolchildren were educated regarding the bad effects on the body and mind, with sincere efforts to demotivate them against the addiction of tobacco products. |
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