Tobacco Use in Rural Areas of North India (with Special Reference to Ghaziabad District) Ruhil Rohini* Tobacco Cessation Expert, YES Healthcare Clinic, Chaudhary Market, Railway Road, Muradnagar, Dist. Ghaziabad, UP *Corresponding Author: Dr Rohini Ruhil, Tobacco Cessation Expert, YES Healthcare Clinic, House of Chaudhary Surendar Pal Singh, Chaudhary Market, Railway Road, Defence Colony, Muradnagar, Dist. Ghaziabad, UP - 201206. E mail- drrohiniruhil@gmail.com
Online published on 10 February, 2015. Abstract Background According to GATS India 2009–10, the percentage of current tobacco users in rural areas was 38 percent as compared to 25 percent in urban areas of India. Percentage of current tobacco users in Uttar Pradesh was 34% which was almost similar to national average of 34.6 percent. Objectives To study the prevalence and determinants of tobacco use in rural areas of Ghaziabad district. Methods It was a descriptive research design. The sampling design adopted was Multistage random sampling. Various stages were selection of blocks, villages, households and individuals. Sample size was calculated to be about 200 individuals. Tools of data collection was semistructured questionnaire that was used in the form of schedule. Data analysis was done using SPSS and MS Excel. Results The prevalence of tobacco use in rural areas of Ghaziabad district was found to be about 44 percent. Bidi was most frequently used tobacco product (49%), followed by Khaini (20%) and Hukka (16%). The tobacco use was found to be varied with sex of individual, educational level and awareness level of individual. According to study 90 percent of tobacco users were willing to quit and 24 percent made a quit attempt in the past one year and 59 percent of current tobacco users received some kind of help for quitting. Conclusion A large proportion of rural people in villages of Ghaziabad district used tobacco (specially Bidi, Khaini and Hukka). The tobacco use was low among people with higher educational level and high awareness level. Majority of current tobacco users wanted to quit but small proportion of current tobacco users really made a quit attempt and few of them received any kind of help for quitting, mainly from family. Top Keywords Tobacco use, rural, North India, Ghaziabad, Quit attempt. Top |