Bengaluru: seven percent of teenagers between 15 years and 17 years in India experimented with smoking or smokeless tobacco, according to a study by the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) and the National Center for Informatics & Research (NCCDIR), Bengaluru.
The research report, published in the June 2021 edition of the British Medical Journal, highlighted risk factors for non-contagious diseases among teenagers.
One of every 10 teenagers in India experimented with smoke or smoke tobacco form, the study said, adding that teenagers from urban areas have a higher proportion of risk factors than rural areas.
This research, conducted in 2017-18, has 1,531 teenagers throughout the country.
From them, 3.1% reported the current use of all forms of tobacco, higher in rural areas (3.6%) and among boys (5.5%).
This study highlights that one fifth of teenagers reported paying attention to teachers or school staff in place.
The researchers said evidence of non-communicated risk factors (NCD) and school-based health promotion activities were very important.
This study also focuses on the dietary behavior of young people.
Nearly 48.3% reported skipping breakfast once a month and 4% skip breakfast every 30 days.
On average, they skip breakfast 10 days a month, a little more in rural areas.
Dr.
Prashant Mathur, Director, NCCDIR and the main investigator, said this study filled the national data gap for this vulnerable age group, helping to assess India’s progress towards the NCD target for 2025 and provide a boost to focus on this age group.
“India needs to strengthen existing policies, plan a more effective risk reduction strategy and special health promotion program for adolescents.” she says.