Prevalence and predictors of tobacco use among general public of Gorakhpur district, India.

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and demographic correlates of tobacco use in the adult population.

Method: The sample selection was based on stratified random sampling technique selecting a total of 1635 persons from different parts of Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The demographic details of participants along with prevalence of tobacco use were recorded.

Results: The prevalence of tobacco use among the subpopulation studied was 31.1% for males and 6.1 for females. Both smoking and chewing tobacco were found to be associated with various demographic parameters. The rural population showed a higher prevalence of tobacco use among both males and females; the male smoking prevalence was higher in the urban population (23.0%) than its rural counterpart (18.1%). Also the prevalence of tobacco use was directly proportionate to age increasing upto the age of approximately 60 years, then declined. Stepwise Regression analysis showed gender as the strongest predictor for smoking followed by area of residence, education and age. Whereas education was the most significant predictors for chewing tobacco, followed by gender and age.

Conclusion: The results of this study clearly indicate an association between tobacco prevalence and various demographic factors. To reduce the cancer burden, intervention measures to control tobacco use should specifically target those socio-demographic predictors of the subpopulation which are more susceptible to tobacco consumption.