Abstract
Author(s): M. Parameswaran, S. Vijaya Priya, R. Latha, A. Malathi, G. Gayathiri, M. Kasthuri and G. Sharmila Banu
Smoking in teens is a great health fear as it is related to several chronic illnesses and death in future life. There is also connected with further high-risk behaviors in the teenagers. The current study was aimed to decide the pervasiveness and motives for smoking among higher secondary school teenage boys. This study was a cross-sectional investigation piloted among 11th and 12th standard students. Three government schools in the District of Namakkal were identified and schoolboys from these government schools were randomly nominated. Students were given a self-administered questionnaire. About 343 schoolboys were included in the study. The pervasiveness of smoking amongst the school teenaged boys was 37%. Though the most of them initiated smoking between 16- 18 years old (67%), 21% of them commenced smoking below 15 years of age during at high school. There was a significant connection between adolescent smoking and smokers in the family members (p<0.05). The common motives described for starting smoking were curiosity (69%) and peer pressure (51%). However, the common reasons for progressing smoking were stress (70%) and addiction (49%). Schoolwork was reported as the most vital factor which contributed to their stress. Smoking avoidance programmes should commence promptly in primary schools. Teenage students must be educated on effective policies in dealing with stress and learning to be self-confident