Bhutia Tshering D, Bawdekar Manasi, Gaur Kirti, Lad Narayan
Preventive Health Education Programme, Salaam Bombay Foundation, Mumbai, India.
Research and Monitoring & Evaluation, Salaam Bombay Foundation, Mumbai, India.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2025 May 1;26(5):1719-1725. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.5.1719.
In the ever-evolving landscape of nicotine, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have gained popularity as devices that deliver nicotine and other chemicals to users in the form of aerosol without the need for combustion. The study examines increasing use of e-cigarettes among under-resourced adolescents in Mumbai's municipal and government schools.
We used purposive sampling to recruit 72 students of Grade 8 and 9 from nine Mumbai municipal schools, enrolled in the Salaam Bombay programme, based on their willingness and ability to discuss e-cigarettes. We used thematic analysis to analyse interview data.
Results reveal that despite financial constraints, curiosity and misconceptions about safety these teens are drawn to e-cigarettes. Peer pressure and strategies to bypass bans exacerbate the trend. While the students are aware of ban on e-cigarettes, their understanding about the regulations remains limited. The 2019 Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act (PECA), while not entirely eradicating e-cigarette availability, has had a surprisingly positive impact. Informing the participants about legal consequences outlined in PECA triggered fear and a shift towards discreet consumption. This suggests that the law serves as an effective deterrent in curbing adolescent use. This research emphasizes the significance of PECA in reducing e-cigarette use among adolescents, advocating for its sustained and potentially amplified application.
The study concludes that PECA alone is insufficient to address this complex issue. It calls for a comprehensive strategy, including targeted interventions that address peer pressure, online influences, and greater involvement of families to protect adolescents from dangers of e-cigarettes. A multi-faceted approach that includes education, legal enforcement, and community engagement is essential to combat this complex public health issue effectively.
在不断演变的尼古丁领域，电子烟作为一种无需燃烧就能以气溶胶形式向使用者输送尼古丁和其他化学物质的设备，越来越受欢迎。本研究调查了孟买市立学校和政府学校中资源匮乏的青少年对电子烟的使用情况日益增加的现象。
我们采用目的抽样法，从九所孟买市立学校中招募了72名八年级和九年级的学生，这些学生参加了“孟买之光”项目，入选依据是他们讨论电子烟的意愿和能力。我们采用主题分析法来分析访谈数据。
结果显示，尽管存在经济限制、好奇心以及对安全性的误解，但这些青少年仍被电子烟吸引。同伴压力和规避禁令的策略加剧了这一趋势。虽然学生们知道电子烟被禁止，但他们对相关规定的理解仍然有限。2019年的《禁止电子烟法案》（PECA）虽然没有完全消除电子烟的可得性，但却产生了惊人的积极影响。向参与者告知PECA中概述的法律后果引发了恐惧，并促使他们转向谨慎消费。这表明该法律在遏制青少年使用电子烟方面起到了有效的威慑作用。本研究强调了PECA在减少青少年电子烟使用方面的重要性，主张持续且可能扩大其应用范围。
该研究得出结论，仅靠PECA不足以解决这一复杂问题。它呼吁采取全面战略，包括针对性的干预措施，以应对同伴压力、网络影响，并让家庭更多地参与进来，保护青少年免受电子烟的危害。包括教育、执法和社区参与在内的多方面方法对于有效应对这一复杂的公共卫生问题至关重要。
