Prevalence of Tobacco Use in Men above the Age of 18 Years in an Urban Area of Belgaum

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people a year. Prevalence of tobacco use has increased over the past decades. If current trends persist, tobacco will kill more than 8 million people worldwide each year by the year 2030, with 80% of these premature deaths in low- and middle-income countries. The prevalence of tobacco use among men has been reported to be high (generally exceeding 50%) from almost all parts of India. According to National Family Health Survey-III, percentage who uses any kind of tobacco in urban area is 49.9%. Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cancer, lung diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Hence the present study was undertaken to know the prevalence of tobacco use, factors affecting it, quitting patterns and morbidity among tobacco users. METHODOLOGY: A community based cross sectional study, conducted from January to December 2013 among urban adult males aged above 18 years in Urban Health Centre, Ramnagar, Belgaum. Total 725 participants were included in study. After obtaining the ethical clearance, pilot study was conducted. Written informed consent was obtained from every participant. Data was collected by house to house visit using a predesigned questionnaire, which included socio-demographic variables, prevalence of tobacco use and factors affecting it, knowledge and attitude towards act to control tobacco products, quitting pattern and morbidity pattern. Statistical analysis was done using chi square test and P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In the present study, 24% were in the age group of 18 – 25 years, 5.5% were in 26 -35 years, 32.6% were in 36-45 years, 23% were in 46-55 years, 10.3% were between 56-65 years and 34.6% were in 65 years and above. The prevalence of both smoking and smokeless forms of tobacco together was 55.7%. 25.9% were using only smoking form, 10.3% only smokeless form and 19.4% of the subjects were using both forms. 44.3% subjects were not using any form of tobacco. 28.8% were users of smokeless forms of tobacco. 21.8% subjects used chewable tobacco, 0.4% in snuff form, 20 2.8% used pan masala and 4.8% were Gutkha users. 73.7% subjects knew about the act to control tobacco products. 93.8% said that they are in favour of the act to control tobacco products. 46.77% initiated use of tobacco in the age of 16 years or older age and 36.91% at the age of 10 to 15 years. 20% of the subjects stopped because of respiratory problems and 7.4% because of decrease in work capacity. When offered by their friends 27.7% said that they might probably use, 22.5% said they will definitely use tobacco. 42.62% had pathology in mouth and throat, 27.17 % respiratory problems, 5.1% cardiovascular problems and 6.07% subjects had abdominal problems. CONCLUSION AND INTERPRETATION The present study, reported a higher prevalence of tobacco use among adult men. The knowledge about the act to control tobacco product was not adequate among the study participants. Most of the users initiated the use of tobacco at young age. A good number of current tobacco users wished to quit. Majority of the subjects stopped using tobacco because of respiratory problems and decreased work capacity. Majority of the study participants had pathology in mouth and throat. Pathologies in respiratory system, cardiovascular system and per abdomen were significantly associated with the tobacco use.