BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Tobacco use among adolescents in low-income urban areas is not just a behavioral concern but deeply interconnected with issues like poor nutrition, mental stress, peer pressure, and the easy accessibility of tobacco products. Social acceptance of tobacco consumption further complicates preventive efforts. Many standalone tobacco control initiatives fail to address these underlying factors, limiting their long-term impact. Salaam Bombay Foundation’s In-School Preventive Health Education Programme was designed to overcome these challenges by integrating tobacco awareness with interventions addressing nutrition and mental wellbeing. Targeting over 50.000 adolescents annually across 300+ schools in Mumbai, India, the program focuses on the holistic development of adolescents in economically disadvantaged communities.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: The program employs a comprehensive strategy to simultaneously address tobacco use, nutritional deficiencies, and mental stress. Through engaging educational sessions, it generates awareness about the ill effects of tobacco while teaching adolescents practical ways to enhance the nutritional content of their diets using locally available food. Stress management is addressed by introducing healthy coping mechanisms and life skills training, reducing the likelihood of adolescents resorting to tobacco use. Peer-driven initiatives such as forming “health monitor” groups encourage collective action to make schools tobacco-free zones and drive community-level campaigns.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: The program has fostered significant behavior change among adolescents, leading to the creation of tobacco-free schools and youth-driven advocacy. Health monitors have successfully influenced policy changes, including raising tobacco taxes, enforcing gutka bans, and eliminating tobacco advertisements on public transportation. The program has demonstrated that integrating tobacco control with nutrition and mental health interventions is more impactful than isolated efforts.
CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive approaches that address the underlying drivers of adolescent tobacco use are critical for sustainable impact. This model highlights the importance of integrating public health initiatives to improve adolescent wellbeing. Expanding similar frameworks can enhance tobacco control outcomes globally, particularly in resource-constrained settings.