Prevalence of tobacco consumption and its determinants in the adult population in the field practice area of Urban Health Training Center: Acommunity based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats, which is believed to cause six million deaths a year. The present study was planned to estimate tobacco consumption prevalence and its determinants in an adult population. Material and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in an adult population residing in the urban slum area of Urban Health Training Center from January 2021 to March 2021. Sample size was estimated as 226. Data was collected using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: In the present study prevalence of tobacco consumption in any form was found as 22.41%. Further history was available from 226 participants, one from a family chosen randomly. Mean age of participants was 40.3 years with SD±15 years. Maximum participants i.e., 112 (49%) consuming tobacco were engaged in unskilled occupation. The most common reason for initiating tobacco was fun and curiosity in 89 (38%) participants. Maximum participants 138 (61%) consumed tobacco 1-5 times daily. About 21% of participants had made efforts to quit tobacco. Conclusion: In the present study prevalence of tobacco consumption was considerable in the adult population. About 40% of participants did not know about the adverse effects of tobacco, two-thirds of participants were willing to quit tobacco, while only 21.23% have made efforts to quit tobacco. The study highlights the need of tobacco cessation intervention.