Determinants of Smokeless Tobacco Consumption and its Cessation among its Current Users in India.

Abstract

Global Smokeless Tobacco (SLT) consumption is on the rise and constitutes a major Public Health problem. Controlling SLT intake is central to containing the increasing tobacco menace. The present study was undertaken to comprehensively explore various factors involved in SLT consumption and its cessation among current SLT users. Present study was conducted among current SLT users visiting Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. A structured, pretested and self-administered questionnaire was employed for the present study. Knowledge, attitude, behaviour, worksite practices of respondents towards SLT consumption and its cessation, barriers to SLT cessation were explored. Information about socio-demographic variables was also collected. Overall, 170 current SLT users participated in the present study. Results revealed that the mean knowledge, attitude, worksite related practices and barrier scores were 9.96(55.33%), 48.89(81.48%), 2.70(33.75%) and 54.25(60.27%) respectively. Correlation analysis revealed significant association of socio-demographic factors with knowledge, attitude and worksite related practices (p<0.05). SLT cessation related practices revealed that majority wished to quit (90%) and significant associations were noted amongst wish to quit with higher attitude scores; actual quit attempts with higher attitude, lower barrier scores and difficulty to quit with higher barrier scores (p<0.05). The present study draws attention towards involvement of complex interactions of various parameters including socio-demographic factors in SLT consumption and its cessation. Hence, it is imperative to implement multifactorial SLT control approach in order to contain tobacco menace spread across the globe.