Sociodemographic characteristics of tobacco users as determinants of tobacco use screening done by healthcare providers: Global Adult Tobacco Survey India 2009-2010

Abstract

Introduction:World Health Organization and Indian Public Health Standards recommend provision of tobacco use screening and cessation help at primary care settings. Evidence shows that brief advice by healthcare provider helps tobacco user quit. It starts with asking the patient about his tobacco use status. The rate of tobacco use screening done by healthcare providers is very low and also depends on sociodemographic characteristics of patients along with several other factors.Objectives:This paper intends to study how sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, residence [rural/urban], education, and occupation) of tobacco users influence the tobacco use screening done by healthcare providers.Materials and Methods:The study was a secondary data analysis of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey India 2009–2010. There were 4958 smokers and 7255 smokeless tobacco users included in the study who visited healthcare provider in the past 12 months prior to the survey.Results and Discussion:The results showed that male smokers were more likely to be screened for smoking by healthcare providers as compared to female smokers. Furthermore, tobacco users in younger age groups were less likely to be screened for tobacco use by healthcare providers as compared to tobacco users in older age groups. Urban smokeless tobacco users were more likely to be screened for tobacco use by healthcare provider as compared to rural smokeless tobacco users.Conclusion:Healthcare providers were being biased in tobacco use screening of their patients based on demographic characteristics of patients, i.e., their age, gender, and rural/urban residence. However, the evidence shows that it is very imperative to screen each and every patient for tobacco use habit.

Prevalence of bronchial asthma and factors associated with it among higher secondary school children in Ernakulam district, Kerala, Southern India

“…[ 27 ] The Global Adult Tobacco Survey of 2009 reported that adolescent age group is less likely screened for tobacco use. [ 28 ] This will hamper in developing an age-specific intervention for tobacco cessation.…”

CHIGURU Adivasi Birth Cohort Study: A Protocol for Examining the Effects of Parental Substance Use on Child Development in Southern Indian Adivasi Communities

“…(1,2) The prevalence of smoking among women in India is low(0.5% in women Vs 5% in men) (3), possibly due to the prevailing gender norms in many societies including its intersections with other social determinants (like, caste, class, location, and ethnicity) that have shaped sex-based and other differences in tobacco/substance use wherein women generally tend to have lower prevalence of substance use compared to men. (4,5) National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) data shows around 8.9% of women (above 15 years) use tobacco and 38% of men (above 15 years), while alcohol consumption is relatively 1.3% among women and 18.8% among men. (6) Substance use throughout a person's life is in uenced by a range of factors, starting at an early age.…”