EFFECT OF HEALTH EDUCATION ON TOBACCO CONTROL AMONG SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/Keywords:
tobacco use, adolescents, health education, intervention, cohort study, public health, prevention, tobacco control.Abstract
Background: Tobacco use among adolescents in India remains a pressing public health concern, with significant health
and societal implications. Health education is a promising strategy for tobacco control in this demographic. This study
aims to assess the impact of health education on tobacco use among Indian school-going adolescents.
Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted with 732 participants from urban and rural schools
in India. Baseline data on demographics and tobacco use were collected. A comprehensive health education intervention
was implemented, and follow-up assessments were conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months post-intervention. Statistical
analysis was performed to evaluate the intervention's effects.
Results: At baseline, 19.4% of participants had ever used tobacco, and 8.5% were current users. At the 3-month followup, ever use decreased to 17.8%, with current use at 6.7%. At 6 months, ever use was 16.4%, and current use was 5.6%.
At the 12-month follow-up, ever use was 15.0%, and current use was 5.2%. A comparative analysis showed the
intervention group had lower tobacco use rates than the control group at 12 months.
Conclusion: Health education interventions demonstrated promise in reducing tobacco use among adolescents. Shortterm and sustained effects were observed, with the intervention group showing lower rates of tobacco use compared to the control group at 12 months. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored health education programs in mitigating tobacco use among adolescents.
