EFFICACY OF AN ANTITOBACCO COMMUNITY EDUCATION-PROGRAM IN INDIA

In a study on 'Assessment of Efficacy of an Anti-Tobacco Community Edu cation Program' on Kolar District of Karnataka, India, an experimental and two control areas were chosen based on comparable population, hea lth, and socioeconomic parameters. The two main objectives were to pre vent individuals from taking up the tobacco habit among those who curr ently did not smoke or chew tobacco, and to stop the tobacco habit in those who did smoke or chew tobacco. A baseline tobacco-habit survey o f the population was followed by anti-tobacco education of the communi ty in the experimental area only, Two years later, a repeat survey of the population was conducted, followed by a final survey after a furth er three years. Methods of health education of the community included screening of films, exhibits, and personal contact with a display of p hotographs of the harmful effects of tobacco. The results were evaluat ed through changes in prevalence rates, quitters' rates, and initiatio n rate. The final survey showed that in the experimental area, the dec line in the prevalence rate in the combined sample compared with the b aseline rates was 10.2 percent in males and 16.3 percent in females, w ith a corresponding quitter's rate of 26.5 percent in males and 36.7 p ercent in females, Among men, a higher proportion (30.2 percent) had g iven up chewing compared with smoking (20.4 percent).