Prevalence and Determinants of Tobacco Usage Among Youth (Age Group 15-24) in Peri-Urban area of Villupuram, Tamilnadu

Objectives:The objectives were to study the prevalence and pattern of tobacco use among youth (15-24 years) and to explore the various determinants of tobacco usage. Material and Methods: It was a community-based cross sectional study. Based on the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2008-10, the prevalence of 34.6% was used to calculate the sample size. A representative sample of 610 youth was selected and interviewed using pre-designed and pre tested questionnaire by doing house to house visits. The data was entered and analyzed using the Epi_info software package. Result: About 57.4% males and 6.5% females gave the history of ever usage of tobacco products, 48.6% of males and 0.81% of females had consumed any tobacco products in last 30 days. Among male out of 177, 88.1% smoked cigarette and only two females have consumed dry tobacco leaves. The major reason to use were peer pressure (96%) and media influence (59.2%). The common occasion to consume tobacco products were stress (77.6%) and to cheer up (60.3%). Conclusion and recommendations: The prevalence of current use of any tobacco products among youth (15 to 24) was found to be very high. Prevention of tobacco consumption in youth reduces/delays the incidence of non communicable diseases in their adulthood.