GYTS-4 Survey: 5.1 per cent of students in 13-15 age group consume tobacco products in Maharashtra

Representative image. Pic/iStock

According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-4) released, 5.1 per cent of school students (between 13-15 age group) are currently consuming various forms of tobacco products in Maharashtra. The report was released by Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope at Tata Memorial Hospital on Thursday, February 17, 2022.

Around 63 per cent of current cigarette smokers and 70 per cent of current bidi smokers bought cigarettes/bidis from a store, paan shop, street vendor, or vending machine. Among the current smokers, 30 per cent of cigarette smokers and 43 per cent of bidi smokers were not refused by the vendors/shopkeepers because of their age (13-15 year-old age group).

The survey's report further highlights that use of any form of tobacco was higher among students at home (30 per cent) followed by public spaces (14.4 per cent), at friends' place (11.9 per cent), social events (10 per cent), school (9 per cent), and other places (24 per cent).

Tope pointed out the importance of creating awareness among youths about the harmful effect of tobacco use. Tope said, "We will be able to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use among young students by emphasizing the role of educational institutions and the education department for creating awareness among them. Stringent tobacco legislation implementation on the ground for decreasing the demand and supply of tobacco products."

Maharashtra state's Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Department, Dr Pradeep Vyas said, "It is important to educate students about the health hazards caused by tobacco as there is always an opportunity and also a risk to easily turn the dominant mind towards good and bad at a young age of school children."

Dr Rajendra Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre said, "Results from Maharashtra reporting on the current use of any form of tobacco at 5.1 per cent which is less than the national average of 8.5 per cent is encouraging."

Key findings from the report:

- 7.8 per cent of students were exposed to tobacco smoke at home
- 22 per cent of students were exposed to tobacco smoke inside enclosed public places
- 16 per cent of current smokeless tobacco users wanted to quit and 24% of current smokers wanted to quit smoking
- 4 per cent of the students surveyed smoked tobacco
- 1.6 per cent of the students surveyed smoked bidi
- 2.4 per cent of students used smokeless tobacco
- 86 per cent of school heads were aware of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003

Dr Badwe added, "Emphasise is needed on a major overhaul of the tobacco vendor policies towards the sale of tobacco products around education institutions has nearly 56 per cent of the underage students were able to buy tobacco products (cigarette, bidis and other chewable) through street vendors."

In Maharashtra, the GYTS-4 was conducted in 2019 (in rural and urban areas) as part of a national survey by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). A total of 4,360 students from 35 schools (9 public school; 20 private school) participated in the survey. Of which, 3,765 students aged 13-15 years were considered for reporting.

The survey was conducted to study and estimate tobacco usage among youths aged 13-15 years at the state level by sex, location of school (rural-urban). The first three rounds of GYTS were conducted in 2003, 2006, and 2009.