An Exploratory study to assess the attitude towards tobacco consumption among junior college students in selected urban colleges

 

Mr. Tushar Kedar

Lecturer, Maharashtra College of Nursing, Latur

 

ABSTRACT:

An Explorative descriptive study was conducted to assess the attitude towards tobacco consumption among junior college students in selected urban colleges. The study was conducted atDr. BapujiSalunkeMahavidylaya, Miraj among 300 junior college students who were selected by using purposive sampling technique. The study result s revealedattitude towards tobacco consumption categorized under three parameters outcome i.e. positive attitude, neutral attitude and negative attitude. Majority 203 (67.67%) of samples had positive attitude, while 91 (30.33%) were having neutral attitude, and remaining 6 (2%) students were having negative attitude regarding side effects of tobacco consumption.The Modified attitude scale scores ranged from 23to 94.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Tobacco use is a leading preventable cause of deaths worldwide; the situation is more morbid in the developing countries. Use of tobacco amongst the children and adolescents is already a pandemic. India accounts for the world’s second largest tobacco production, which is the leading cause of death and each year it is estimated to kill approximately 5 million people worldwide²

 

Tobacco consumption usually starts in adolescence and continues into adult life. Adolescents and young adults of colleges are often targeted by tobacco industry for marketing and being influenced by television, cinema, and advertisements. The other most common reasons cited for initiation are peer pressure, parental tobacco habits and pocket money received. Adolescents are increasingly exposed to changing life styles that have a negative impact on health.²

 

TITLE OF THE STUDY:

“An Exploratory study to assess the attitude towards tobacco consumption among junior college students in selected urban colleges.”

 

OBJECTIVES:

1)To assess the attitude of Junior College students towards tobacco consumption in selected urban Colleges.

2)To find out the association between selected socio-demographic variables and attitude towards tobacco consumption of junior College students in selected urban colleges.

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes some 4 million deaths a year to tobacco, a figure which is expected to rise to 8.4 million deaths a year by 2020. By that time, 70% of these deaths will be occurring in the developing countries. Studies in the developed countries show that most people begin using tobacco before the age of 18 years. Recent trends indicate an earlier age of initiation and rising smoking prevalence rates among children and adolescents. If these patterns continue, tobacco use will result in the deaths of 250 million of the people who are children and adolescents today, many of them in the developing countries.³it is found that adolescents have their own concept regarding consumption of tobacco .though they know the adverse effect with its causes on their health still they consume it. So, the investigator felt the need to explore the attitude of college students towards tobacco consumption.

 

Hypothesis: 

H₁:  There will be significant association between attitude score towards tobacco consumption and selected demographical variables among junior College students in selected Urban Colleges.

H₀: There will be no significant association between attitude score towards tobacco consumption and selected demographical variables among junior College students in selected Urban Colleges.

 

METHODOLOGY:

An Explorative descriptive study was conducted to assess the attitude towards tobacco consumption among junior college students in selected urban colleges. Ethical clearance was obtained from the institution. Formal administrative permission was obtained from principal of Dr. BapujisalunkeMahavidylaya Miraj. A total of 300 students were selected through purposive sampling. Data was gathered regarding attitude towards tobacco consumption through Modifiedattitude scale (Likert scale) among the junior college students and each student took about 10-15 minutes to complete the modified attitude scale. Data collected was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

 

 

 

 

 

RESULTS:

Section- I: Demographic variable of junior college students

According to age, in the study Majority of samples I .e  225 (75%) were between 15-17 years of age group followed by 70 (23.33%) were between 18-20 years of age and remaining 5   (1.67%) in age group above 21 years. Gender wise distribution 201 (67%) were male and 99 (33%) were females. According to their educational status, 136 (45.33%) students belonged to Arts, followed by 112 (37.33%) were from Commerce and 52 (17.33%) were from Science stream, as per Residential area Majority samples i.e 152(50.67%) students were from the rural area and 148 (49.33%) were from the urban area.

 

Section II:                                                                                                                   

Table no 1: Mean and standard deviation of attitude scores towards tobacco consumption among junior college         n=300

Attitude	Mean	Median	Mode	S.D.
	42.7	42	40	9.44

 

Table no. 1 revealed that mean score was 42.7 median score 42, mode score 40 with standard deviation±9.44.

 

Table no 2: distribution of outcome parameters of attitude towards tobacco consumption in terms of frequency and percentage   n=300

ATTITUDE	Groups		Frequency	Percentage
	Positive	20-45	203	67.67 %
	Neutral	46-75	91	30.33%
	Negative	76 and above	6	2.00%

 

The table no 2.  Revealed that 203 (67.67%) of samples were having positive attitude, 91 (30.33%) were having Neutral attitude, and remaining 6 (2%) students were having negative attitude regarding side effects of tobacco consumption.

 

Section III: Association of attitude score in relation to demographic variablesn=300

Sr. No.	Variable	Groups	Attitude		Chi-Square	d.f.	p value	Significance
			below Median	Above Median
1	Age	15-17	130	95	ʎ2 0.02	2	0.99	Not Significant
		18-20	40	30
		21 and above	3	2
2	Gender	Male	107	94	ʎ2 4.90	1	0.03	Significant
		Female	66	33
3	Educational Stream	Science	27	25	ʎ2 6.81	2	0.03	Significant
		Arts	73	67
		Commerce	73	35
4	Family Type	NUCLEAR	63	50	ʎ2 6.13	2	0.04	Significant
		JOINT	84	46
5	Residential Area	EXTENDED	26	31	ʎ2 0.73	1	0.39	Not Significant
		URBAN	89	59
		RURAL	84	68
6	Specific Habit	Yes	10	7	ʎ2 0.01	1	0.92	Not Significant
		No	163	120

For the variables like Gender, Educational Stream and Family Type with attitude (p=˂0.05).Concludes that, there was significant association of these demographic variables with attitude towards tobacco consumption among junior college students in selected urban colleges.

For the variables like Age, Residential area and Specific Habit with attitude (p=˃0.05).Concludes that, there was no significant association of these demographic variableswith attitude towards tobacco consumption among junior college students in selected urban colleges.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1)                   A comparative study can be conducted to assess attitude regarding tobacco consumption among Rural and Urban population.

2)                   A descriptive study can be conducted to assess the knowledge and practice towards tobacco consumption among junior college students.

 

CONCLUSION:

Study concludes that research hypothesis (H₁) was partially acceptedthis indicates there was significant association between attitude score towards tobacco consumption and demographical variables among junior College students in selected Urban Colleges.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

I extend my sincere thanksto Mr. Santosh. Kumar. S.K, Mrs. H.W. Kadam Mrs. Jessica Waghmare, Mrs. Sangeeta Satwekar, Bhalchandra Awale_, Mrs. Suman Pawar, U Parker, Jessy Jacob and participants of study.

 

REFERENCES:

1)   Available from URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco.

2)   Shakuntala B. Effectiveness of teaching programme on smokeless tobacco use and its prevention among adolescent boys. Innovational Journal of Nursing and Healthcare 2015; 1 (3): 133-40.

3)   Charles WW, Riley L, Asma S. Eriksen MP, Lawrence G, Curtis B, Cliff L, Scott B, and Derek Y. Tobacco use by youth: a surveillance report from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey project. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2000; 78 (7):868-876.

 

 

 

 

Received on 02.02.2019          Modified on 22.03.2019

Accepted on 02.04.2019     © A&V Publications all right reserved