| Archives |
 |
| |
| Use
of tobacco growing at alarming rates among the youth
|
17.5% Boys of 12 to 18 Years Use Tobacco
Rates of tobacco use are rapidly rising in Pakistan and other low-income
South Asian countries, especially amongst the youth. Since most adolescents
use tobacco in presence of peers, anti-tobacco messages communicated
through peers and youth icons are likely to have a positive impact
on curbing the rising tide of tobacco use.
This was stated by Dr. Tazeen H Jafar, Associate Professor and Director
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Aga Khan University (AKU) while stating
her findings from a study conducted in multiethnic area of central
Karachi. This information was shared at a recently held youth event
organized by AKU in Karachi. The aim of this event was to raise awareness
and engage adolescents in the fight against tobacco.
Dr. Jafar informed that according to World Health Organization (WHO),
if appropriate preventive measures are not taken, the number of deaths
attributable to tobacco will increase to 10 million per year by late
2020s, with 70% of them taking place in the developing world. Particularly,
people from South Asia have an increased risk of heart diseases as
they have excess exposure to established risk factors including smoking
and smokeless tobacco use. She further added that lung and oral cancers
(both tobacco related) are the most frequently occurring cancers reported
among men in Karachi.
While elaborating on a recent study conducted by her team, Dr. Jafar
said that prevalence of tobacco use among boys of 12 to 18 years was
17.5%. Around 5.7% smoked cigarettes and 18.1% chewed tobacco. The
most common form in chewable tobacco was gutka or main puri (13%)
followed by pan with tobacco (4.3%) and naswar (1.0%). The study also
showed that children from families where adults use tobacco, and those
who get pocket money, are more likely to use tobacco than those who
do not.
Dr Jafar cautioned that these figures are alarming and that parents
should be made aware of these findings. She further said that control
of tobacco use would entail a multifaceted approach with involvement
at the individual, household, community, national, and policy level.
Tobacco advertisements and sales should be discouraged because our
vulnerable youth deserve protection from this dangerous addiction,
she stated.
AKU regularly holds seminars, symposiums and events to raise awareness
about health and education related issues which are of national importance
and interest.
|
|
|
