Abstract

Consumption of Smokeless Tobacco in Adult Population in an Urban Slum of Jorhat town, Assam

Background: Smokeless tobacco consumption is associated with various health risks like precancerous lesions, oral cancers, dental problems and cardiovascular diseases. A family history of smokeless tobacco use, peer pressure and lack of knowledge about its health effects are some of the factors attributing to smokeless tobacco consumption in India. Objectives: The study was carried out with objectives (1) to assess the prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption and (2) to assess knowledge about the health effects of smokeless tobacco use in the adult population residing in a slum of Jorhat town, Assam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in one of the selected slums of Jorhat town, Assam from July 2019 to November 2019. A predesigned pretested structured schedule was used for data collection by interview method. The result was presented in simple tables using percentage frequency. Results: (80.77%) are current users of smokeless tobacco. A Majority (31.79%) consume betel quid with tobacco. Around (69.52%) of the respondents started using smokeless tobacco from 15 years to 25 years of age. (34.58%) responded that smokeless tobacco use causes oral cancer

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