Socio Economic Patterning of smoking and tobacco consumption in India

Abstract

There is a paucity of information on prevalence and pattern of smoking and tobacco consumption in India and this study was planned to assess the socioeconomic status, prevalence and pattern of smoking and tobacco consumption in the people of the rural area of Bihar District, who were working in the rice mill of Uttarakhand state, India. The study was conducted among 60 male subjects, aged 19-48 years, in Rudrapur block of KLA rice mill. Data on sociodemographic details, smoking and tobacco chewing were collected by using the standardized Socio Economic Status (SES) scale and developed precoded interview schedule. Results revealed that most indicators of SES were related to the lower category as well as smoking status and tobacco chewing rates were very high among them, which may pull the individual and the entire family below the poverty line. The strong and well known relationship between SES, smoking and tobacco chewing were also found there. Hence there is a need of interventions which may help in reducing the burden in this area.