Socioeconomic disparity in regular consumption of tobacco among adults: an empirical investigation from Northeast India

Abstract

Background or Objective:The present study addressed the gender differential of socioeconomic disparity in the age-adjusted daily consumption of smoked tobacco, smokeless tobacco and both among the adults in North-East India, and the risk factors associated with it.Methods:We analysed data from the second round of the Indian Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2016-17).Prevalence ratio and disparity index were used to capture the socioeconomic disparity in the regular consumption of tobacco. Binary logistic regression modelswere used to estimate the risk factors associated with tobacco use. Results:The study found about three out of every ten adults aged 15 years and above consume smokeless tobacco daily, whereas the prevalence of smoked tobacco consumption was less than that. This study also captured the existence of socioeconomic inequalityin the age-adjusted prevalence of daily consumption of smoked and smokeless tobacco among the study subjects, regardless of the measurement by educational level, employment and wealth status. However, the poorest and the unemployed were more prone to consume any form of tobacco as compared to less poor and employed. Conclusions: Proper execution of policies that includes health education about the daily consumption of tobacco and its direct association with severe health diseases needs to be devised in the Northeastern region.