Anti-tobacco prog a hit in schools: Study

Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health, Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and Healis Seksharia Institute for Public Health, have released the results of an independent study on Salaam Bombay Foundation’s (SBF) anti-tobacco awareness programme in Mumbai’s municipal schools.

The study found that students in schools that have enrolled in SBF’s programme were half as likely to use tobacco than students from other schools.

A total of 1,850 students from Classes 8 and 9 of different municipal schools were surveyed for the study.

The study found that students from schools that had enrolled in SBF’s programme, when compared to students who haven’t had the same benefit, were more aware of tobacco products and laws regarding the same. They were also more likely to convince others in their schools and communities to give up the habit of tobacco chewing or smoking. And of course, much fewer students exposed to SBF’s programme used tobacco.

Devika Chaddha, programme director, SBF, said, “We hope that with the release of the study, more schools will enrol in this programme. Even though the programme’s focus is on tobacco-control, we provide life-skills training to students which gives them the confidence to take on challenges in the future.”