TOBACCO USE PATTERNS AMONG MILITARY RECRUITS

Abstract

All recruits reporting to a regimental centre between 01 Jan 98 to 31 Mar 99 (n=1049), were administered a questionnaire about their own and their family's tobacco use practices. The prevalence of smoking among recruits was 43%, while that of smokeless tobacco use was 34.1%. There was a significant association between parental tobacco use and peer pressure on the tobacco habits of recruits. Knowledge about harmful effects of tobacco use did have a role in restraining the tobacco habit among recruits.