The influence of tobacco policies in schools of Peshawar

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco use has become quite common in school students worldwide and Pakistan is one of those countries massively affected. Data about implementation of tobacco control policies in schools of Peshawar city are scanty, with consequences for the health of students and school staff.

Objectives: To evaluate the implementation of tobacco control policies in schools, and the effect these policies have on tobacco use among students.

Material & Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 3 private and 3 public schools of Peshawar city. Self-structured Questionnaires were used to collect data from school administration and the students. Schools were selected through simple random sampling. Classes 8, 9 and 10 were selected from each school and one section was selected from each class randomly. Students were selected through systematic sampling in which every third student was selected from each row. The age group of study subjects ranged from 12 to 18 years.

Results: Out of the 230 students that participated in the study, 51.3% were from the age group 15-18 years and 48.7% students were in the age group 12-14 years. Amongst these, 6.52% of students reported using tobacco products. Of 6 schools included in the study, 4 were unaware of the latest tobacco control policy developed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government for schools. Of the remaining 2 schools, only one was effectively implementing the policy, in which 8.10% students were regular users of tobacco compared to 5.4% of students from schools not following the tobacco policy. The schools unaware of tobacco policies had 6.4% students using tobacco.

Conclusion: Two-thirds of the schools were unaware of any Tobacco Policy. An almost total lack of policy implementation was observed in the schools studied, even among the schools aware of the policy.