UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective:Tobacco is the major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. As per the Indian council of Medical Research approximately 800,000 people die because of tobacco usage. Kidwai hospital registry data 2002 suggests 32.5% cancers to be tobacco related. The common form of usage is chewing and smoking. The common cancers associated are Head & Neck Cancers. Two Nation wide studies revealed M:F of ratio 22.2% : 4% in urban & 33.8 : 8% in rural areas (1994) of tobacco usage.

With change in life style there is an increase in the trend of tobacco related cancers. When does the tobacco habit start? A survey was done regarding this in school children. 21% of boys and 2% of girls used tobacco and the age at which it started was between 12-14 years.

Methods:Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology had completed a project titled: Assessment of the efficacy of Anti Tobacco Education Programme in villages. This resulted in a 37.8% reduction in tobacco habit. A questionnaire was circulated when to start the education programme? It was decided that secondary school children should be educated at least at 3 monthly intervals by a trained class teacher.

Results:Early Anti tobacco education programme is beneficial in reducing tobacco habit in secondary school children. Institute has planned to have an initial survey followed by 3 monthly anti tobacco education programme and then an assessment at the end of 1 year regarding the efficacy of the programme.