Extent Of Tobacco Use Research Articles

A time series of tobacco use in Belgium based on a critical appraisal of data sources, 1997-2020

Abstract By being the leading risk factor for most of the leading causes of death worldwide, tobacco use represents an important public health issue that causes a significant health and economic burden. Despite policy regulations, the prevalence of the use remains substantial in many countries, such as Belgium. A comprehensive framework for the quantification of the health impact of tobacco use, based on representative data, is however still lacking. As a preliminary step, we aimed to map and critically assess the past and current trends of tobacco use from 1997 to 2020 in Belgium for establishing a time series of the true extent of tobacco use. Data sources assessing tobacco use in Belgium, meeting our inclusion criteria: frequency, type of survey, international comparability, consistency over time, and representativeness of the sample were included in the critical appraisal. The selected data source forms the basis for a time series of tobacco use from 1997 to 2020. We applied a Bayesian inference model using the integrated nested Laplace approximation, to estimate the distribution of tobacco use by age, sex, and region. We identified four data sources containing information on tobacco use in Belgium. The best available data source for creating a time series of tobacco use was the Belgium Health Interview Survey. The modelled time series based on this data shows a decrease in the prevalence of daily smoking from 1997 (25%) to 2020 (15%). In 2020, daily smoking was estimated to be the highest in the Walloon region (19%) followed by the Brussels region (16%) and the Flemish region (14%). In 2020, the prevalence of daily smoking was estimated to be higher among men (19%) and in the age category 45-59 (20%). This study provides a critical review of data sources monitoring tobacco use in Belgium. Time trends derived from modelling show the overall smoking trends are decreasing but the use remains a public health concern in Belgium. Key messages • Understanding the role of tobacco on population health as an attributable burden can improve health monitoring. • Tobacco use is still a public health concern in 2020 with an estimated prevalence of daily smoking of 15% in the population. Different patterns of tobacco use can be seen at the regional level.

Prevalence of tobacco use and awareness about its ill-effects amongst adult rural population of district Rewari

Background: To determine the extent of tobacco use and knowledge of its harmful consequences among the rural population of District Rewari, Haryana.Methods:A cross-sectional study was done in the month of November 2021. A total 600 participants were interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire for data collection.Results: 23.3% of population consuming tobacco, with male population has highest tobacco consumption (84.97%). Tobacco consumption is in form of Bidi and Hookah (85.1%). People who tried quitting tobacco restarted due to withdrawal symptoms (64.3%), peer pressure (24.2%), and 11.5% due to other factors like stress, gastric problems. 29.5% females and 25.3% males find tobacco as the main cause of oral cancer. 94% of people consuming tobacco were aware about its ill-effects. 14.37% recognized swelling and ulcers, 3.27% red and white lesion, 1.64% hoarseness of voice as main symptoms of oral cancer, while, 76.8% didn’t recognize any. 84.8% were never educated about causes, and early signs and symptoms of oral cancer by any healthcare professional, But the majority knows the ill effects of tobacco through advertisements and social media.Conclusions: Although tobacco consumption has decreased so far even in the villages, people are still unaware of the risks associated with smoking, and those who wish to stop can’t, due to lack of any professional help. New programs should be implemented like organizing awareness camps. Strictly banning the advertisements and marketing of tobacco products is the most necessary step in eliminating it from our society completely.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND REPORTED PRACTICES OF DENTAL STUDENTS IN OMER-ALMOKHTAR UNIVERSITY REGARDING TOBACCO EFFECTS ON ORAL CAVITY HEALTH

Background: Tobacco use is risk factor causes of preventable death in the world. Oral health professions provide multiple opportunities for interventions throughout their careers that could lessen tobacco correlated diseases. Three factors knowledge, attitudes and behaviour are thought to play a starring role in determining the extent of tobacco use between patients and help dental clinicians to implement smoking cessation policy. Present study aimed to determine dental student's level of knowledge, awareness and practice regarding tobacco use and students/ dentists’ role in tobacco cessation.Subjects and methods; A total of 160 students were recruited from Faculty of Dentistry, Omer- Almokhter university, and surveyed using an anonymous self administered questionnaire. This questionnaire was based on intensive literature review. Cross-section study design was applied using a structured questionnaire which included data related to personal characteristics and assessment of KAP of participants.Results: one hundred eight students responded with (82.4%) were females and 17.6 % were males. That majority of responding students had high level of knowledge attainment on tobacco with the exception of knowledge about smokeless tobacco which was inadequate. Although, most students (92.6%) agreed that dentist has an important role in tobacco control and training regarding tobacco effects is sufficient to allow them to help their patients to quit smoking, only 56.6% give advices to their patients. The prevalence of smokers among students was low (4%).Recommendation Education about tobacco effects necessity involved in the curriculum from first year. Students should be given training about smoking cessation and counselling techniques and must be motivated to play their role in patients’ education regarding smoking.

Tobacco use and concurrent engagement in other risk behaviours: A public health challenge for occupational therapists

INTRODUCTION: Occupational therapists are concerned about what people do and how that impacts their health and well-being. However, occupational therapy contributions to the cessation and prevention of tobacco use remain limited. Tobacco use constitutes occupational performance that poses a serious threat to health, well-being and quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to report the extent of tobacco use and discuss the nature of risk behaviours among high school learners in the city of Maseru, Lesotho METHOD: The paper draws on findings of a larger study that aimed to establish the prevalence of risk behaviours among high school learners in Lesotho. 1121 learners aged 12-27 years completed the Lesotho Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (LYRBS) in a school-based cross-sectional survey. STATA and Microsoft Excel we used for data analysis RESULTS: The findings highlight the co-occurring and concurrent nature of risk behaviours, such as use of other substances, gambling and sexual behaviours with tobacco use dominating clusters of concurrent engagement CONCLUSION: Tobacco use is an occupation and a public health emergency that requires urgent attention from an early age. Delaying early initiation of tobacco use could prevent engagement in other risk behaviours thereby avoiding associated health consequences. With their understanding of occupation, occupational therapists can contribute immensely to interventions aimed at curbing engagement in risk behaviours Key words: Health risk behaviours; Youth; Occupational performance; Lesotho Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (LYRBS); concurrent behaviours

Tobacco use among people living with HIV: analysis of data from Demographic and Health Surveys from 28 low-income and middle-income countries.

SummaryBackgroundTobacco use among people living with HIV results in excess morbidity and mortality. However, very little is known about the extent of tobacco use among people living with HIV in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We assessed the prevalence of tobacco use among people living with HIV in LMICs.MethodsWe used Demographic and Health Survey data collected between 2003 and 2014 from 28 LMICs where both tobacco use and HIV test data were made publicly available. We estimated the country-specific, regional, and overall prevalence of current tobacco use (smoked, smokeless, and any tobacco use) among 6729 HIV-positive men from 27 LMICs (aged 15–59 years) and 11 495 HIV-positive women from 28 LMICs (aged 15–49 years), and compared them with those in 193 763 HIV-negative men and 222 808 HIV-negative women, respectively. We estimated prevalence separately for males and females as a proportion, and the analysis accounted for sampling weights, clustering, and stratification in the sampling design. We computed pooled regional and overall prevalence estimates through meta-analysis with the application of a random-effects model. We computed country, regional, and overall relative prevalence ratios for tobacco smoking, smokeless tobacco use, and any tobacco use separately for males and females to study differences in prevalence rates between HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals.FindingsThe overall prevalence among HIV-positive men was 24·4% (95% CI 21·1–27·8) for tobacco smoking, 3·4% (1·8–5·6) for smokeless tobacco use, and 27·1% (22·8–31·7) for any tobacco use. We found a higher prevalence in HIV-positive men of any tobacco use (risk ratio [RR] 1·41 [95% CI 1·26–1·57]) and tobacco smoking (1·46 [1·30–1·65]) than in HIV-negative men (both p<0·0001). The difference in smokeless tobacco use prevalence between HIV-positive and HIV-negative men was not significant (1·26 [1·00–1·58]; p=0·050). The overall prevalence among HIV-positive women was 1·3% (95% CI 0·8–1·9) for tobacco smoking, 2·1% (1·1–3·4) for smokeless tobacco use, and 3·6% (95% CI 2·3–5·2) for any tobacco use. We found a higher prevalence in HIV-positive women of any tobacco use (RR 1·36 [95% CI 1·10–1·69]; p=0·0050), tobacco smoking (1·90 [1·38–2·62]; p<0·0001), and smokeless tobacco use (1·32 [1·03–1·69]; p=0·030) than in HIV-negative women.InterpretationThe high prevalence of tobacco use in people living with HIV in LMICs mandates targeted policy, practice, and research action to promote tobacco cessation and to improve the health outcomes in this population.FundingSouth African Medical Research Council and the UK Medical Research Council.

Does tobacco addiction relate to oral mucosal changes? An epidemiological study from North India

Objective Tobacco use in both smokeless and smoked forms is a very common addiction in India, with high prevalence in northern India. The relationship between tobacco consumption and oral mucosal changes and ulceration is not well documented and studied in the literature. The aim of this study is to explore the extent of tobacco use and its relationship with the development of mouth ulcers.

Smoking habit of children and adolescents: an overview

Smoking represents one of the largest public health problems due to its detrimental effects on multiple organs of the human body and its association with a variety of chronic and/or lethal diseases. Most smokers start smoking in their youth when growth has not been yet completed and they are more susceptible to the harmful components of tobacco. Purpose of this review was to present current data about the extent of tobacco use in childhood and adolescence, the situations facilitating smoking initiation at an early age and the available policies aiming to prevent early age smoking and to promote smoking cessation in non-adult individuals. Data were collected from the international PubMed database and through research in Google Scholar. Smoking rates among children and adolescents are alarming. Health care specialists should be aware of the real reasons leading to early age smoking, which are mainly the influence of family and its economic status, social life and internet. However, psychological reasons contribute also to early smoking initiation. Interventions in these fields should be achieved in order to prevent children and adolescents from smoking. For those who unfortunately smoke many smoking cessation programs exist worldwide and can help young people to quit smoking. However their results are often controversial. The significant increase of smoking among children and adolescents should be dealt with well-designed national smoking prevention and cessation programs after analyzing thoroughly the causes of young people smoking initiation. Both of these programs, but mainly the one aiming to the prevention part, should be practiced with the cooperation of all social parts, while school should have a central role.

Tobacco use in pregnant women: analysis of data from Demographic and Health Surveys from 54 low-income and middle-income countries.

Worldwide, use of tobacco is viewed as an important threat to the health of pregnant women and their children. However, the extent of tobacco use in pregnant women in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains unclear. We assessed the magnitude of tobacco use in pregnant women in LMICs. We used data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) done in 54 LMICs between Jan 1, 2001, and Dec 1, 2012, comprising 58 922 pregnant women (aged 15-49 years), which were grouped by WHO region. Prevalence of current tobacco use (smoked and smokeless) was estimated for every country. Pooled estimates by regions and overall were obtained from random-effects meta-analysis. Pooled prevalence of any tobacco use in pregnant women in LMICs was 2·6% (95% CI 1·8-3·6); the lowest prevalence was in the African region (2·0%, 1·2-2·9) and the highest was in the Southeast Asian region (5·1%, 1·3-10·9). The pooled prevalence of current tobacco smoking in pregnant women ranged from 0·6% (0·3-0·8) in the African region to 3·5% (1·5-12·1) in the Western Pacific region. The pooled prevalence of current smokeless tobacco use in pregnant women was lowest in the European region (0·1%, 0·0-0·3) and highest in the Southeast Asian region (2·6%, 0·0-7·6). Overall, tobacco use in pregnant women in LMICs was low; however high prevalence estimates were noted in some LMICs. Prevention and management of tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke in pregnancy is crucial to protect maternal and child health in LMICs. None.

Understanding tobacco use among urban African American adolescents living in public housing communities: A test of problem behavior theory

This study was guided by Jessor and Jessor's problem behavior theory (PBT) to test the relative effects of personality, perceived environment and behavior system variables on urban teen tobacco use. A sample of 518 urban African American youth residing in public housing communities in three large U.S. cities was utilized. Our results provide partial support for PBT in this study. Personality system variables (i.e., positive attitudes toward tobacco use, and depressive affect, cause and outcome indicators) and behavior system variables (i.e., delinquent behaviors) significantly predicted adolescent tobacco use. Depressive effect and cause indicators were stronger than depressive outcome indicators in predicting the extent of tobacco use. Additionally, age positively moderated the impact of positive attitudes about tobacco use on the extent of adolescent tobacco use.However, perceived environment system variables (e.g., exposure to delinquent peers) did not predict such use. This study suggests that PBT may aid in understanding adolescent tobacco use. Implications for practice and future inquiry are discussed.

Determination of the nicotine metabolites cotinine and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine in biologic fluids of smokers and non-smokers using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: Biomarkers for tobacco smoke exposure and for phenotyping cytochrome P450 2A6 activity

The nicotine metabolite cotinine is widely used to assess the extent of tobacco use in smokers, and secondhand smoke exposure in non-smokers. The ratio of another nicotine metabolite, trans-3′-hydroxycotinine, to cotinine in biofluids is highly correlated with the rate of nicotine metabolism, which is catalyzed mainly by cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6). Consequently, this nicotine metabolite ratio is being used to phenotype individuals for CYP2A6 activity and to individualize pharmacotherapies for tobacco addiction. In this paper we describe a highly sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of the nicotine metabolites cotinine and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine in human plasma, urine, and saliva. Lower limits of quantitation range from 0.02 to 0.1 ng/mL. The extraction procedure is straightforward and suitable for large-scale studies. The method has been applied to several thousand biofluid samples for pharmacogenetic studies and for studies of exposure to low levels of secondhand smoke. Concentrations of both metabolites in urine of non-smokers with different levels of secondhand smoke exposure are presented.

Characteristics and Prevalence of Tobacco Use Among Somali Youth in Minnesota

Somalis compose the largest African refugee group in the U.S., with more than 55,000 primary arrivals since 2000. Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the U.S. Despite its size, little research has been conducted to determine the extent of tobacco use among Somali youth. This paper reports the results from a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey designed to explore factors related to tobacco-use prevention, initiation, and cessation, and to reliably estimate tobacco-use prevalence among Somali youth in grades 9 through 12 in Minnesota. A KAP survey, modeled after validated state and national youth tobacco-use surveys, was adapted for Somali youth and administered to ethnically Somali youth (N = 302) from seven high schools in Minnesota in 2008. Participants were chosen through probability-proportional-to-size and multi-stage random sampling methods, and the results were analyzed in 2009. Somali high school students' estimated prevalence for "ever-users" of cigarettes was 12.8%, and current use was 4.7%. This is one quarter of the reported statewide smoking prevalence for Minnesota high school students (19.1%) and half of the nationwide prevalence for blacks/African Americans (11.6%). Ever-users were more likely to have close friends or live with someone who smoked cigarettes (p < 0.01). Belief in the Islamic prohibition of tobacco affected future intention to use tobacco (p < 0.01), as did the belief that using hookah/sheisha is less risky than smoking cigarettes (p < 0.01). Estimated cigarette use prevalence (4.7%) for Somali youth was substantially lower than among Minnesota high school students and also lower than perceived prevalence among Somalis. Positive peer pressure and religion appear to be protective factors in tobacco use and should be integrated into future Somali tobacco prevention and cessation programs, along with education on the risks of hookah/sheisha use.

Tobacco Use: A Pediatric Disease

Tobacco use and secondhand tobacco-smoke (SHS) exposure are major national and international health concerns. Pediatricians and other clinicians who care for children are uniquely positioned to assist patients and families with tobacco-use prevention and treatment. Understanding the nature and extent of tobacco use and SHS exposure is an essential first step toward the goal of eliminating tobacco use and its consequences in the pediatric population. The next steps include counseling patients and family members to avoid SHS exposures or cease tobacco use; advocacy for policies that protect children from SHS exposure; and elimination of tobacco use in the media, public places, and homes. Three overarching principles of this policy can be identified: (1) there is no safe way to use tobacco; (2) there is no safe level or duration of exposure to SHS; and (3) the financial and political power of individuals, organizations, and government should be used to support tobacco control. Pediatricians are advised not to smoke or use tobacco; to make their homes, cars, and workplaces tobacco free; to consider tobacco control when making personal and professional decisions; to support and advocate for comprehensive tobacco control; and to advise parents and patients not to start using tobacco or to quit if they are already using tobacco. Prohibiting both tobacco advertising and the use of tobacco products in the media is recommended. Recommendations for eliminating SHS exposure and reducing tobacco use include attaining universal (1) smoke-free home, car, school, work, and play environments, both inside and outside, (2) treatment of tobacco use and dependence through employer, insurance, state, and federal supports, (3) implementation and enforcement of evidence-based tobacco-control measures in local, state, national, and international jurisdictions, and (4) financial and systems support for training in and research of effective ways to prevent and treat tobacco use and SHS exposure. Pediatricians, their staff and colleagues, and the American Academy of Pediatrics have key responsibilities in tobacco control to promote the health of children, adolescents, and young adults.

Tobacco use among those with serious psychological distress: Results from the national survey of drug use and health, 2002

There have been relatively few population-based studies that have documented the extent of tobacco use among those with mental health disorders. Recently, the K6 scale, designed to assess serious psychological distress (SPD) at the population level, has been incorporated into a number of population-based health behavior surveys. The present study documented the prevalence of tobacco use products, dependence, and quit behavior among those with and without SPD utilizing the 2002 National Survey of Drug Use and Health. Results from the current study indicated that adults with SPD had greater odds of lifetime, past month, and daily use of cigarettes, cigars and pipes than adults without SPD. Common measures of nicotine dependence (e.g., Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale) indicated that a greater percentage of those with SPD were nicotine dependent compared to those without SPD. Lastly, quit ratios differed notably by SPD status. Among those with SPD, 29% quit or were former smokers compared to 49% of those without SPD. Findings highlight the importance of continuing to enhance public health efforts towards smoking cessation among those with mental health disorders, extensive tobacco surveillance and monitoring of tobacco trends among this group, and evaluating the extent to which this group of smokers may contribute to a hardening of the population.

Smoking and disease.

Tobacco represents the single most preventable cause of disease and death in the world today. The countries of Central Europe bear a disproportionate burden of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. For example, some of the highest rates worldwide of cigarette consumption and smoking prevalence are in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. This chapter first describes the extent of tobacco use in five central European countries, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia and then considers mortality from tobacco related disease. Data from two diseases, lung cancer and oral cancer, which result almost exclusively from tobacco use are considered. Finally, the relationship between tobacco use and oral disease is discussed.