Evaluation of Various Factors Which Motivate Children in Ashram Schools of Central India Region to Consume Tobacco Products

BACKGROUND: Tobacco is consumed in myriad forms in India. The rural population has to bear the brunt of smokeless tobacco products. This leads to several complications. More so, among the rural population, this habit comes into practice at a very young age. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of consumption of tobacco products among young adolescents, at the same time to evaluate the psychological motivation factors for the same. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 2,000 students of the ashram schools was given a detailed questionnaire which included the questions regarding accessibility, liking, source of motivation, and fear of health hazards. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS version 22, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp). Depending on the nature of the data, descriptive statistics were performed to assess the prevalence of tobacco consumption and motivational factors associated with it. RESULTS: The prevalence of tobacco consumption among children was 37.2%. Fifty-one percent of the tobacco users consumed kharra (a mixture of tobacco, lime, areca nut). Forty percent of the tobacco users began using tobacco after the age of 10 years. For 65% of the individuals’ tobacco products were easily accessible. CONCLUSION: With the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the easy accessibility to the products in the rural areas is responsible for the children to indulge in such a harmful habit. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study focused on the factors that motivate the school-going children in the ashram schools to consumption of various tobacco products. This can give a clear insight as to what measures need to be taken to curb such a problem. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sharma P, Kalaskar R. Evaluation of Various Factors Which Motivate Children in Ashram Schools of Central India Region to Consume Tobacco Products. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(4):554–557.