Efficacy of an anti-tobacco community education program in India

In a study on ‘Assessment of Efficacy of an Anti-Tobacco Community Education Program’ on Kolar District of Karnataka, India, an experimental and two control areas were chosen based on comparable population, health, and socioeconomic parameters. The two main objectives were to prevent individuals from taking up the tobacco habit among those who currently 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 of the population was followed by anti-tobacco education of the community in the experimental area only. Two years later, a repeat survey of the population was conducted, followed by a final survey after a further three years. Methods of health education of the community included screening of films, exhibits, and personal contact with a display of photographs of the harmful effects of tobacco. The results were evaluated through changes in prevalence rates, quitters' rates, and initiation rate. The final survey showed that in the experimental area, the decline in the prevalence rate in the combined sample compared with the baseline rates was 10.2 percent in males and 16.3 percent in females, with a corresponding quitter's rate of 26.5 percent in males and 36.7 percent in females. Among men, a higher proportion (30.2 percent) had given up chewing compared with smoking (20.4 percent).