Compliance with Tobacco Control Policies and Global Youth Tobacco Survey: A Cross-Sectional Comparison between GYTS 2000 and 2015 in Maharashtra, India.
Tobacco is the leading avertable cause of death in the world. Adolescents are the most vulnerable population to initiate the use of tobacco. Most adult users start tobacco use in their childhood or adolescence. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) was design to obtain information on tobacco use, exposure to tobacco smoke and other related indicators among adolescent. This
study aims to compare the GYTS data between 2000 and 2015 for the state of Maharashtra in India.
Tobacco was introduced to India by the Portuguese ~ 400 years ago, rapidly grew as a part of socio cultural milieu in various communities. India currently is the second largest producer and
consumer of tobacco in the world, after China. Tobacco kills up to half of its users. Of the 1.1 billion people who smoke globally about 182 million (16.6%) live in India. According to the Global
Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 48% males and 20% females in India use tobacco.
Adolescents is a vulnerable group, usually get exposed to tobacco and tobacco related habits very early. The age of initiation of tobacco related habit has a direct influence on the survival and
related diseases in the individuals.10 The current study to the best of our knowledge is the first attempt which compares GYTS in the state of Maharashtra conducted before (in 2000) and after (in 2015) COTPA implementation of various aspects related to tobacco, such as prevalence, knowledge, attitude, policy compliance in adolescent population. Tobacco use has decreased after implementation of COTPA in school going children of Maharashtra.
Epidemiol Open J. 2019; 4(1): 12-20. doi: 10.17140/EPOJ-4-114
