In the study, the prevalence of use of tobacco was 17.5 per cent. Overall, smokeless tobacco use was higher than the type smoked. Gutkha was the most common form of tobacco used, followed by cigarettes, khaini, beedi and masheri.

The study, titled “Prevalence of Tobacco Consumption in School Going Adolescent Boys in Urban Slum of Mumbai”, was conducted by Doctors of R N Cooper Hospital. A total of 183 students from Class VIII to Class X, with a mean age of 15 years, participated in the study. Its report said one of every sixth child in Mumbai had been consuming tobacco. More prevalence of tobacco use was found in those whose father had had higher education.

In the study, the prevalence of use of tobacco was 17.5 per cent. Overall, smokeless tobacco use was higher than the type smoked. Gutkha was the most common form of tobacco used, followed by cigarettes, khaini, beedi and masheri. In the study, it was observed that 6.6per cent among the tobacco-takers were regular users and 6 per cent occasional users. As many as 2.2per cent had been past users and 2.5 per cent were experimental users. Read More