AWARENESS OF HARMFUL EFFECTS OF SMOKING AMONG SMOKERS

BACKGROUND: Smoking is the preventable risk factor for many non-communicable diseases like COPD, atherosclerotic diseases, stroke and many malignancies. Many smokers smoke their 1st cigarette at early age due to various social factors. Many of the smokers doesn't know the harmful effects of the smoking on individual systems. METHODS: Prospective study conducted on 102 smokers attending to outpatient department of the Government fever hospital, Guntur. They were surveyed about their smoking preferences. After taking the preliminary details they are enquired about the level of awareness of harmful effects of smoking. RESULT: More than half the members (n=56,54.90%) smoke in their houses. They don't know about effect of second hand smoke on the health of the members. Only few members know the complication of the smoking like Skin diseases (17,16.66%), Cerebrovascular accidents (26,25.49%) and endocrine complications including diabetes (n=2, 1.8%). Most of subjects know risk of Carcinomas (92,90.19%), Cardiovascular diseases (34,33.33%) and Respiratory diseases (85,83.33%). People continue smoking inspite of awareness of complications of smoking due their addiction. CONCLUSIONS: Newer policies should raise towards educating the people about the exact impact of smoking on health. Policies should target the younger people that should stop smoking their 1st cigarette or beedi.