Pattern and predictors of current smokeless tobacco use among women in selected states in India: Using the gender lens to interpret evidence from the global adult tobacco survey 2010

• Main Author: Jagdish Kaur
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Makhdoomi Printers 2017-01-01
• Series: Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health
• Subjects: Smokeless Tobacco; India; Women; Predictors
• Online Access: http://gjmedph.com/uploads/O2-Vo6No6.pdf

Background The current gap in the understanding of the dynamics of smokeless tobacco (ST) consumption among Indian women needs to be addressed by ascertaining the epidemiological determinants of ST use in this group with a special focus on high‐prevalence states in India. This study examines predictors of current ST use among Indian women aged 15 years and above in selected high‐prevalence states using data from GATS‐India 2010. Material and Methods A binary logistic regression model with presence or absence of current ST use as the dependent variable was used to identify univariate predictors of current ST use among women in these states. Significant univariate predictors were used to build a multivariate logistic regression model. Results There is an urgent requirement of closing the existing need‐to‐demand gap in nine high‐prevalent states in respect of providing adequate tobacco cessation facilities targeted at female ST users. The strong correlates of current ST use among women in these states are older age groups, low education, rural residence, and certain occupational categories. Conclusion As the underlying determinants of ST use among adult women vary across states in India, the states with high prevalence of ST use among women need to be focused for targeted interventions. In the backdrop of recently concluded COP7 in India, the time may not be more opportune to develop practicable and scalable public health policies to reduce overall ST use among adult women in the nine high‐prevalence states with special focus on the disadvantaged and vulnerable populations identified in this study.