| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 31
| Issue : 3 | Page : 180-183 |
Hookah use among high school children in an Indian city
Nayak Prathibha Anand1, Khandelwal Vishal2, Nayak Ullal Anand3, Khandelwal Sushma4, Ninawe Nupur5
1 Department of Periodontics, Mahatma Gandhi Dental College and Hospital, Jaipur, India
2 Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore, India
3 Department of Pedodontics, Mahatma Gandhi Dental College and Hospital, Jaipur, India
4 Department of Rasa Shatra, Sri Dhanvantari Ayurvedic College, Mathura, India
5 Department of Pedodontics, VSPM Dental College and Research Centre, Nagpur, India
Correspondence Address:
Khandelwal Vishal
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Gandhinagar, Airport Road, Indore, Madhya Pradesh - 453 112
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0970-4388.117980
Context: Use of hookah is on the rise among youngsters. A growing body of evidence suggests that these children are experimenting with this form of tobacco. Aims: The study was carried out to know prevalence estimates of hookah use and factors associated with it among high school students.Settings and Design: This study adds to the current literature by providing prevalence estimates and factors associated with hookah use among high school students of Indore - a city in central India.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1000 students from high schools was conducted to find hookah users and factors associated with its use. Results: Hookah users in this study population were 7.6%. Most of them first learned about hookah from friends (63.2%). They usually smoked in hookah lounges (85.5%). These children believed that hookah was safer and more socially acceptable than cigarettes.Conclusions: Misperceptions of safety and popularity of hookah among the younger generation are cause for concern. Presence of hookah lounges should be a target for further regulation. Prevention activities are necessary to prevent this rising public health concern.
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