Knowledge about the Harmful Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke, Perceptions toward Initiation of Smoking and Factors Influencing Smoking in Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: The main hope of a nation lies in the proper education of its adolescents because the youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow. About 15% of children of ages 13–15 years are ingesting tobacco in certain forms and are getting addicted to tobacco. Hence, tobacco has become a burden in our society. Similarly, environmental tobacco smoking (ETS) is more dangerous than smoking and is common among young adolescents. AIM: This study is aimed to explore the knowledge about the hazards of ETS and the factors which are responsible for adolescents to initiate tobacco smoking among parents visiting the pediatric dental clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey on the knowledge about the harmful effects of ETS and factors influencing the initiation of tobacco use among adolescents was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. A sample size of 400 parents of adolescents aged between 10 and 16 years visiting the pediatric clinics was included in the study; data thus obtained was subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: The effect of ETS in increasing the risk of cancer was known to be 64.4%. But the effect on premature babies was least known by 37% of the parent population, which is statistically significant. About 14% of parents perceive that children initiate smoking to experiment or relax, which is statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Parents have very little knowledge regarding the effects of ETS on children. They can be counseled regarding types of smoking and smokeless tobacco products, health hazards, the deleterious health effects of ETS, and passive smoking, particularly in children with respiratory diseases. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Thimmegowda U, Kattimani S, Krishnamurthy NH. Knowledge about the Harmful Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke, Perceptions toward Initiation of Smoking and Factors Influencing Smoking in Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(6):667-671.