Prevalence and determinants of tobacco use in a remote rural area of South India: a community based cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Tobacco use is a major public health problem in India. We intended to study the tobacco use and its risk factors from a rural area of South India.Methods: This study was conducted in 2018, among twenty villages located around a rural health training centre, in South India.Results: Total population surveyed was 14925. Among them 11995 individuals were in the age group of 15 years and above. In this group 739, 6% (5.7-6.6) of tobacco users, 423, 3.5% (3.2-3.9) of smokers and 369, 3% (2.8-3.4) of tobacco chewers were included in the study. Individuals belonging to lower caste were four to five times more likely to be a tobacco user. Tobacco use increases with age. Illiterates were 1.8 times more likely to be a tobacco user, married and Widows were two times more likely to be a tobacco user. Alcoholics were 13 times and hypertensive patients were 1.5 times, non-vegetarians were 1.4 times, individual preferring open defecation were 1.7 times more likely to be a tobacco user. Smoking was more associated with male gender, lower caste, increase in age, married individuals, alcoholics, hypertension and having semi-pucca house. Tobacco chewing was more associated with female, lower caste, increase in age illiteracy, married and widow, alcoholic, hypertension, non-vegetarian diet, open defecation, having kutcha or semi-pucca house.Conclusions: Tobacco use in a remote rural area is high among the socially deprived community who are illiterate, belonging to lower caste and those who prefer open defecation.

The Determinant of Smoking Behaviour Among Female Worker in Southeast Asia: A Case Study Among The Philippines and Indonesian

“…Based on the Maternal and Child Health Pro le (2020), the number of working mothers or women in urban and rural areas do not have a big difference, namely working mothers have higher health complaints (29.62%) than mothers who do not work (27, 32%) 16 . This is supported by previous research, which explains the type of work level and the level of knowledge of women in Indonesia have a statistical correlation in smoking families, especially in rural areas 14,17 .…”

“…Research conducted by 6,13 , also explains that smoking habits has a close relationship with the level of health literacy, marital status, age, and employment. This research is supported by the previous study conducted in other developing countries (South India), which shows people in remote rural areas with low literacy levels and employment status are the main factors in smoking behavior 14 .…”

Lung Cancer in India–Part I

“…The issue of tobabacco use in India has been highlighted by other authors also. [351][352][353][354][355][356][357][358][359][360][361] To assist the country-level implementation of effective interventions to reduce the demand of The Indian Journal of Chest Diseases & Allied Sciences tobacco, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control introduced the MPOWER package, consisting of six policy intervention strategies: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies, Protect people from tobacco smoke, Offer help to quit tobacco use, Warn about the dangers of tobacco, Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and Raise taxes on tobacco.…”

Patient Interval and Associated Factors in the Diagnostic Journey of Oral Cancer: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study from Kerala, India

“…The type of house in which the patient lived was the only socio-demographic factor found to be significantly associated with the patient interval in our study. A study from south India reports a higher prevalence of tobacco smoking among those who live in semi-pucca-type houses in comparison to those living in pucca-type houses (Vinothkumar et al, 2020). Less affluent households often have poor housing conditions and that may affect health outcomes (Braubach and Savelsberg, 2009).…”