INTRODUCTION:

Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the Nicotiana genus and the Solanaceae family. More than 71 species of tobacco are known, but the chief commercial crop is Nicotiana_tabacum"tabacum. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and death. Because 82% to 93% of adult smokers began during adolescence, and two thirds became daily smokers before they reached 19 years of age.

Moreover, there is recent proof that adolescents report symptoms of tobacco dependence in the smoking process, even before becoming daily smokers. The prevalence of tobacco use is major among teenagers and young adults than among older adult populations. The major role of pediatricians in helping to reduce tobacco use and addiction and second-hand tobacco-smoke exposure in the pediatric population includes education and prevention, screening and detection, and treatment. In some situations, criminal or behaviors occur when a person is under the influence of a drug or long term personality changes in individuals will occur as well. In addition to physical, social, and psychological harm, use of some drugs may also lead to criminal offenses.¹

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A study to assess the knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys in selected areas of Kerala

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys in selected areas of Kerala.

2. To find out the association between demographic variables and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys of selected areas of Kerala.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

A) Literature related to prevalence of tobacco use among adolescent boys:

A study was done to evaluate the association between risk factors and severity of problems related to tobacco use in secondary school adolescents on July 2017. In this 1192 students from 6th to 9th year of a city in the Minas Gerais, Brazilwas taken. Data collection done through a questionnaire containing: socio-demographic data and the tobacco Use Screening Inventory. Drug use was prevalent in adolescents of age 14 and 15 years with good family relationships, living with friends, attended parties once a month, one or two times a week and three and four times a week. The main damage in the areas of family system and social competence among those who made use of drugs. The results shows that the need for implementation of preventive strategies of drug use and health promotion in the school context, whereas consumption was associated with significant damage.²

B) Literature related to knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescents:

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. A self-administered questionnaire based on standardized questionnaires prepared by the WHO consisting of sections about knowledge and practices of the students regarding smoking and substance abuse was submitted to 296 students enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine of Cairo University, during the academic year 2014–2015. Most of the participants had correct knowledge about health hazards of smoking, where 83.4–93.6% correctly selected the answers, but still stated that they are in need for courses about this issue. Positive attitudes were expressed towards smoking legislations and tobacco control policies. Cigarette and shisha smoking, bongo, and addictive medications abuse were low among the studied group.³

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

A quantitative research approach was adopted to assess the knowledge regarding tobacco use among adolescent boys in selected areas of Kerala. Quantitative research approach emphasizes objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected to polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by manipulating preexisting statistical data using computational techniques. 21 The setting for the present study was selected areas of Kerala. Population for the present study composed of selected adolescent boys in Kerala. Sample for the present study comprises of 60 adolescent boys from selected areas of Kerala. Convenient sampling is a type of non-probability sampling that involves the sampling being drawn from that part of the population that is closed to hand.

Tool:

The tool used for the present study is demographic performa and structured questionnaire.

Data Collection:

Prior to data collection necessary permission was obtained from Bishop Benziger College of Nursing Kollam. Convenient sampling technique was used to collect the data needed for the study. It was conducted for 60 adolescent boys by giving structured knowledge questionnaire prepared through Google forms. The forms were given through E mail given by each participant. 20 minutes was given for answering the questions. The data were collected from each on participant’s response through Google forms.

Data Analysis:

The data was tabulated and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.21 Frequency and percentage will be used for the analysis of demographic data. Chi-square test will be used to find out the association between knowledge and selected demographic variables.

RESULTS:

1. Description of demographic variables of adolescent boys of selected areas of Kerala.

This section deals with the sample characteristics under study. In present study the demographic data revealed that out of 60 samples more than half of the sample, 38% was in the age group of 18 years, 31% were in the age group of 19 years, 18% were in the age group of 16 years and 13% were in the age group of 17 years. More than half of the sample 56% was from nuclear family and 44% were from joint family. Regarding their education, more than half of the sample of 52% was higher secondary, 38% were graduate, 5% were postgraduate and 5% were up to SSLC. Regarding the occupation more than half of the sample 37% were government employees, 33% were private employees, 18% are others and 12% were unemployed. According to the family income of adolescent’s boys per month, 40% adolecents boys below 15000, 37% were between 15000-25000, 18% were between 25000-50000 and 5% were between 50000-75000. In that the adolescents 57% were used social media for the source of informatoin, 33% were mass media, 7% were family and 3% were others.

2. Description of knowledge regarding the adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys.

The present study revealed that out of 60 sample 5% sample had poor knowledge on adverse effect of tobacco use, 48.3% had average knowledge and 46.7% had good knowledge regarding tobacco use.

Association between knowledge and demographic variables:

In the case of occupation of guardian the Chi –square value is 17.125 which is greater than the table value at 0.05 level of significance .So there is association between occupation of guardian and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In case of age the Chi –square value is 6.137 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between age and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In the case of type of family, the Chi –square value is 5.394 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between type of family and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In the case of education of guardian Chi-square value is 1.914 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between education of guardian age and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In the case of family income the Chi-square value is 6.468 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between the family income and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In the case of source of information, the Chi-square value is 10.03 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between source of information and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys.

In short only occupation of the guardian showed significant association with knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco (calculated value is greater than tabulated value at 0.05 level of significance), where as age, type of family, education of guardian, family income per month and source of information showed no significant association with knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco.

DISCUSSION:

This study was aimed for assessing the knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys in selected areas of Kerala. In the present study non experimental research design was selected to assess the knowledge regarding tobacco use among adolescent boys in selected areas in Kerala.A quantitative research approach was adopted. Convenient sample technique was used for this study. The tool consists of: Demographic variables, it comprises of age, type of family, education of guardian, occupation of guardian, source of information regarding tobacco and family income per month. Structured questionnaire consists of structured questionnaire on knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. It consists of 20 multiple choice questions regarding knowledge of adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. Each with one appropriate answer. The maximum score for the correct answer is 1and 0 for wrong answers. Frequency and percentage were used for the analysis of demographic data. Chi-square test was used to find out the association between knowledge and selected demographic variables.

In present study the demographic data revealed that out of 60 samples more than half of the sample, 38% was in the age group of 18 years, 31% were in the age group of 19 years, 18% were in the age group of 16 years and 13% were in the age group of 17 years. More than half of the sample 56% was from nuclear family and 44% were from joint family. Regarding their education, more than half of the sample of 52% was higher secondary, 38% were graduate, 5% were postgraduate and 5 % were up to SSLC. Regarding the occupation more than half of the sample 37% were government employees, 33% were private employees, 18% are others and 12%were unemployed. According to the family income of adolescents boys per month, 40% adolecents boys below 15000, 37% were between 15000-25000, 18% were between 25000-50000 and 5% were between 50000-75000.In that the adolescents 57% were used social media for the source of informatoin, 33% were mass media, 7% were family and 3% were others.

The present study revealed that out of 60 sample 5% sample had poor knowledge on adverse effect of tobacco use, 48.3% had average knowledge and 46.7% had good knowledge regarding tobacco use.

In case of age the Chi–square value is 6.137 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between age and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In the case of type of family the Chi –square value is 5.394 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between type of family and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In the case of education of guardian Chi-square value is 1.914 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between education of guardian age and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In the case of occupation of guardian the Chi –square value is 17.125 which is greater than the table value at 0.05 level of significance .So there is association between occupation of guardian and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In the case of family income the Chi-square value is 6.468 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between the family income and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys. In the case of source of information the Chi-square value is 10.03 which is lesser than the table value at 0.05 level of significance. So there is no association between source of information and knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys.

CONCLUSION:

The present study was aimed to assess the knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use among adolescent boys in selected areas of Kerala. A structured questionnaire on knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco was given to adolescents boys. The results showed that 5% sample had poor knowledge on adverse effect of tobacco use, 48.3% had average knowledge and 46.7% had good knowledge regarding tobacco use in pre-test.

The association between knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco use and selected demographic variables was done by chi-square test. Only occupation of the guardian showed significant association with knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco calculated value is greater than tabulated value at 0.05 level of significance, whereas age, type of family, education of guardian, family income per month and source of information showed no significant association with knowledge regarding adverse effects of tobacco.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that:

· A similar kind of study can be conducted for a large group

· A study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of adolescent boys regarding adverse effect of tobacco use in selected areas of Kerala.

· A study to assess the attitude and practice regarding tobacco use in selected areas of Kerala.

REFERENCE:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco

2. Vijay L Grover, and Sanjay Chaturvedi (2010) Tobacco Use Among Adolescent Students and the Influence of Role Models, 3 edn., South Delhi: IJCM.

3. Narain R, Sardana S, Gupta S, Sehgal A. Age at initiation and prevalence of tobacco use among school children in Noida, India: A cross-sectional questionnaire based survey. Indian J Med Res 2011, p300

Received on 17.08.2021 Modified on 14.09.2021

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2022; 12(1):128-131.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2022.00027