A BASE-LINE STUDY OF TOBACCO USE AMONG THE STAFF OF ALIGARH-MUSLIM-UNIVERSITY, ALIGARH, INDIA

A cross-sectional study of 2,439 university employees and research sch olars was carried out using the questionnaire method. The objective wa s to assess the prevalence and type of tobacco usage and to collect ba ckground data for planning health education programmes. The overall pr evalence of tobacco usage was 51.5% among males and 30.3% among female s. There were no female smokers, the preferred habit of tobacco usage among women being chewing. The prevalence of smoking among non-teachin g staff members was significantly higher. Among females, the prevalenc e of tobacco chewers was higher in non-teaching staff members. Tobacco usage (both smoking and usage of other forms) rose with age. However, even at 20 - 30 years of age 25.4% of males were addicted to smoking. A majority of 60.6% had smoked for more than 10 years. Among the staf f members (both teaching and non-teaching) the reason for smoking was either to relax or because of addiction, whereas the research scholars smoked to improve their image or for enjoyment/pleasure. The reasons given by users of other forms of tobacco were boredom, to pass the tim e or for no reason at all. Among non-users, the majority were aware of the harmful effects of smoking. Family pressure and traditions were a lso important reasons for not smoking. The study provides a clear pict ure of tobacco usage within the University.