A Study on Tobacco Addiction and Knowledge among University Students of Delhi and NCR, India
Abstract
Background: Smoking tobacco, especially cigarette use among college students, is a critical public health problem. Teenagers,
adolescents, and college-going students are the most helpless and vulnerable group that shows a negative behavior pattern
of tobacco consumption. Preventing tobacco use and awareness generation through health education among them would
contribute to the prevention of stroke, heart diseases, diabetes, oral, and lung cancer.
Purpose: University students are easy prey to develop nicotine dependency because of numerous factors influencing to
consume tobacco such as stress, low self-esteem, academic pressure, and social characteristics such as having smoker
parents, siblings, or friends. There is a dire need of more college-based cessation programs, promotion of smoking cessation
applications, and easy availability of nicotine therapy medication to help people quit tobacco consumption.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 219 participants using the GATS questionnaire among
Government and Private University Students containing six sections and a total of 23 questions. Descriptive analysis was done
with frequencies and summary statistics. Chi-square test was applied and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Of 219 participants, 57.5% were male and 39.7% were female. About 47.9% of participants were smoking tobacco.
About 42.9% of participants were smokers from Private Universities; 57.1% of participants were smokers from Government
Universities. About 57.1% of participants smoked tobacco on a daily basis. About 4.1% of participants were smokeless tobacco
users. About 79.5% of participants were aware of second-hand smoking. About 90.4% of participants were aware of the
harmful effects of tobacco consumption. Gender (P < 0.001), course level (P = 0.020), university (P = 0.006), education of father
(P = 0.002), and education of mother (P = 0.045) were significantly associated with tobacco smoking.
Conclusion: Continuous health education about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and its cessation is necessary to
increase awareness among young adults. Health intervention programs specifically targeted to university students are important
for the prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, stroke, heart diseases, diabetes, oral, and lung cancer.
