Tobacco Use Among Auto - Rickshaw Drivers In Belagavi City – A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Tobacco use imposes a huge burden of disease in India and is a major global public health problem. The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing more than 7 million people a year. Tobacco users have increased risks of cancers of the oral cavity. Oral premalignant lesions (OPMLs) are relatively common and are an important target for cancer prevention. Auto rickshaw drivers are under constant physical and mental pressure due to irregular shifts, continuous variation in fuel prices, long waiting hours, illiteracy, poverty, lack of knowledge about hazards of tobacco and other socioeconomic factors which lead to various habits. The present study was conducted in auto rickshaw drivers to know the prevalence of tobacco consumption and study the oral premalignant lesions METHODOLGY The present cross sectional study was conducted among auto rickshaw drivers who were permanent residents of Belagavi city, from 1st January to 31st December 2016. A sample size of 600 was calculated and obtained by selecting two auto rickshaw drivers randomly from 300 auto rickshaw stands. Personal interview of eligible participants was conducted by the investigator, using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire adopted from GATS questionnaire. Data regarding socio demographic variables like age, address, educational status, years in present occupation, socio-economic status and etc. were collected. General physical examination and oral visual examination for premalignant lesions in oral cavity were done in all the study participants. Informed consent was taken prior to data collection. Ethical clearance was obtained from institutional ethics committee. RESULTS The prevalence of tobacco use in any form was found to be 62.17%. Most of the participants had knowledge about health hazards of tobacco (88.66%).Non users (91.63%) had a better knowledge compared to users (86.86%). Most of them also favored all the legislations related to tobacco. Almost one third of the participants (30.17%) were found to have oral premalignant lesions. Tobacco use was significantly associated with age, literacy, type of family, years in present occupation, length of working hours, night shifts, oral premalignant lesions and body mass index. CONCLUSION The present cross sectional study reported a higher prevalence of tobacco use among auto rickshaw drivers residing in Belagavi. Most of the participants had good knowledge regarding tobacco and legislations related to tobacco. Friends and fellow auto rickshaw drivers were the most common source of motivation for tobacco use. Oral premalignant lesions were seen in one third of the participants.