Prevalence, Pattern and Correlates of Tobacco Consumption Among Adolescents in a Rural Community of India: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Atul Gopal Agrawal, Ankita Agrawal

Abstract

 Background: Tobacco use that begins in adolescence tends to persist, and in India smokeless products dominate; community data on rural adolescents are limited.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and pattern of tobacco use among rural adolescents aged 10–19 years and to identify associated factors.

Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study conducted from December 2023 to May 2024 in one randomly selected village; one adolescent per household was interviewed face to face (n = 500). Current use was any smoked or smokeless tobacco in the past 30 days. Prevalence with Wilson 95% confidence intervals and crude odds ratios (OR) were calculated.

Results: Current use was reported by 221 of 500 adolescents (44.2%; 95% CI 39.9–48.6): 64.3% of males and 18.6% of females. Among users, 73.8% began by age 15 years, 59.7% used daily, 86.0% used only smokeless forms and 75.1% were willing to quit. Gutkha (54.3%), kharra (33.5%) and pan masala (31.7%) were most reported; peer pressure (57.0%) was the commonest reason. Crude odds of use were higher for male sex (OR 7.86; 5.17–11.94), tobacco use in the family (12.62; 8.18–19.46), lower maternal education (14.35; 4.40–46.80) and lower socioeconomic class (class V vs I: 8.93; 4.36–18.26). Because use was common, prevalence ratios were smaller (family tobacco use: 3.54; 2.83–4.42).

Conclusions: Use was highly prevalent, began early, was mainly smokeless and showed strong social gradients. Prevention should target smokeless products, peers and households, and offer cessation support. The data come from a single village and are unadjusted.

Keywords

adolescent; tobacco use; smokeless tobacco; gutkha; rural health; prevalence; India; cross-sectional study

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