Tobacco Control among Disadvantaged Youth living in Low-income Communities in India: Introducing Project ACTIVITY

Objective: To provide an overview of Project ACTIVITY, a group randomized intervention trial designed totest the efficacy of a community-based, comprehensive approach to tobacco control for youth (10-19 years)living in low- income communities in India. In doing so, details regarding baseline characteristics of the studysample are provided.
Methods: Fourteen slum communities in Delhi, India were matched and randomized tointervention (n=7) and control (n=7) conditions. The intervention included multiple strategies to promoteprevention and cessation of tobacco use among youth. A census was conducted in selected blocks in all studycommunities (n=78,133), as well as a baseline survey of eligible youth (n=6,023). Main outcomes measures onthe survey included ever use, past six months use and current use of multiple forms of tobacco. Mixed effectsregression models were used to examine differences between study conditions in (a) demographic characteristicsand (b) the prevalence of tobacco consumption.
Results: Census data revealed that 31.9% of sampled populationwas in the age group of 10-19 years. No differences between study conditions in demographic characteristics(e.g. age, gender, religion, education, and occupation) among either adults or youth were noted (p>0.05). Thebaseline survey data revealed the prevalence of ever tobacco use among youth was 7.99%, past six months usewas 5.70%, and current use was 4.88%. No differences between study conditions in these prevalence rates wereobserved, either (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The two study conditions in Project ACTIVITY are comparable. Theevaluation should provide a robust test of this intervention’s efficacy