A Comparative Study to Assess the Level of Knowledge on Ill Effects of Tobacco use among Adolescents Residing in Urban and Rural Areas at Kanyakumari District in A View to Develop an Information Booklets

The number of people in the age group of 18 years and younger in the world today is 2.4 billion, which is the largest generation in history (CASA 2000). One of the greatest causes of concern among adolescents is "tobacco addiction." Tobacco is the second major cause of death today in the world. According to WHO, 2003, nearly 55,000 children join the club of tobacco consumers in the country every day, while 77 lakh Indian children even below 15 years of age, take tobacco on a regular basis. Nearly 5 million people die due to tobacco use every year and this figure will increase to 10 million by 2020. Of these, 7 million deaths will occur in the developing countries, mainly China and India (WHO, 2003).