| COMMUNITY RESEARCH |
|
| Year : 2010 | Volume
: 47
| Issue : 5 | Page : 53-58 |
Reach of mass media among tobacco users in India: A preliminary report
T Rooban1, PD Madan Kumar2, K Ranganathan1
1 Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Uthandi, Chennai, India
2 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Uthandi, Chennai, India
Correspondence Address:
T Rooban
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Uthandi, Chennai
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0019-509X.63869
Background : Tobacco use is a health hazard and its use is attributed to a lack of knowledge regarding the ill effects of tobacco. Aim and Objective : To identify the exposure of different mass media among a representative cohort population in the Indian subcontinent and compare the reach of the different mass media among tobacco users and nonusers using the "reach of HIV information" as a model. Design : Secondary Data Analysis of Indian National Family Health Survey-3. Predictor Variables : Any tobacco use, gender, source of HIV information. Outcome Variables : Use of mass media. Results : Of the study group, 27% of males and 54.4% of females never read newspaper or magazine; 29.3% of males and 52.6% of females never heard radio; 12.4% of males and 25% of females never see television; and 79.3% of males and 93.46% of females did not see a movie at least once a month. The most common source of information of HIV was television among males (71.8%) and females (81%), whereas the least common source was leaders among males (0.8%) and females (0.2%). Discussion : Television is the single largest media used by both genders and was a major source of HIV information dissemination. A well-designed tobacco control program similar to HIV awareness program will help to curb tobacco use. Conclusion : The reach of different media among Indian tobacco users is presented and HIV model of information dissemination may prove to be effective in tobacco control.
[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
|
