Search

Background: Tobacco kills both men and women but sex-specific differences exist. The disease burden, health care costs as well as other social losses resulting from premature deaths attributable to tobacco consumption are rapidly increasing not only in men but even among children, teenagers, women of reproductive age group. The use of multiple forms of tobacco in India complicates the efforts to reduce its overall impact on public health. This study was done to know the socio demographic correlates of tobacco consumption among the rural women in the reproductive age group . Methods: A community based cross sectional study, conducted from January 2011 to December 2011 among 1200 rural women aged between 15 years to 49 years residing in Primary Health Centre (PHC) Vantmuri area, Belgaum, Karnataka, India. Statistical analysis was done using rates, ratios and chi square tests. Results: Tobacco consumption was seen in 9.7% of the study participants. Amongst the users, tobacco consumption was more i.e. 38 (19.3%) in women belonging to the older age group of 45 to 49 years. A very high prevalence of tobacco use of 98 (15.9%) was observed out of 615 study participants who were illiterate suggesting that women with no education are at a higher risk of consuming tobacco than the women with high school education. A high proportion 100 (10.2%) of people consuming tobacco was seen in women belonging to Class V socio economic class . Conclusions: Prevalence of tobacco consumption was quite high. Poor and illiterate women living in rural area are at the maximum risk of using tobacco. There is a need for appropriate interventions to create awareness among the women about the hazards of tobacco use and to help them eventually to stop tobacco consumption. There is a need for appropriate intervention to create awareness among the women about the hazards of tobacco use and to help them eventually to stop tobacco consumption.

Background: Tobacco imposes a colossal burden of disease and death leading to catastrophic health, social, economic, and environmental effects. “Tobacco” kills both men and women but sex-specific differences exist. Traditional forms of tobacco like dentifrice or tobacco tooth powder and betel quid, tobacco and lime mixture are commonly used and also, the new products use is increasing not only among men but even among children, teenagers, women of reproductive age. This study was done to know the patterns and other correlates of tobacco use among the rural women in the reproductive age group.Methods: A community based cross sectional study, conducted from January 2011 to December 2011 among 1200 rural women aged between 15 years to 49 years residing in primary health centre, Vantmuri area, Belgaum, Karnataka, India. Statistical analysis was done using rates, ratios and chi-square tests.Results: Tobacco consumption was seen in 9.7% of the study participants. A very high percentage of 79 (67.5%) had more than 10 years of exposure to tobacco amongst the users. Dentifrice was the most common form of tobacco used (85.5%) followed by 32 (27.4%) plain tobacco consumption. However, 49 (4.1%) consumed multiple forms of tobacco, most common being dentifrice along with plain tobacco or paan with beetelquid or used snuff.Conclusions: The distribution of tobacco consumption is likely to maintain, and perhaps increase, the current considerable socioeconomic differentials in health in India. Dual users are at much higher health risks than those who consume the individual tobacco product. It also emphasizes the variations in patterns of using tobacco among rural women. There is a need for periodical surveys using more consistent definitions of tobacco use and eliciting information on different types of tobacco consumed.

Background: Tobacco is a killer of men and women but sex specific differences exists. Along with the risk of suffering from the various health hazards from tobacco use, women are more prone to unique risks related to menstrual and reproductive function reproductive health hazards. This study was done to know the prevalence of tobacco consumption among the rural women in the reproductive age group and its association with the regularity of menstrual cycles and dysmenorrhoea.Methods: A community based cross sectional study, conducted from January 2011 to December 2011 among 1200 rural women aged between 15 years to 49 years residing in Primary Health Centre (PHC) Vantmuri area, Belgaum, Karnataka, India. Statistical analysis was done using rates, ratios and chi-square tests.. Results: The prevalence of tobacco consumption was 9.7%. 11 (10.9%) of currently pregnant women were consuming tobacco. Among the tobacco users, 89 (76.1%) had regular cycles. The association of tobacco consumption with irregular menstrual cycles was statistically significant (χ2=5.575, df=1, p=0.018). Further in this study, a very high percentage of 100 (85.5%) of the tobacco users had dysmenorrhoea. The difference was statistically strongly significant. (χ2=266.593, df=1, p