TY - JOUR
T1 - Why Do Bangladeshi People Use Smokeless Tobacco Products?
AU - Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
AU - Mahmood, Mohammad Afzal
AU - Spurrier, Nicola
AU - Rahman, Mahmudur
AU - Choudhury, Sohel Reza
AU - Leeder, Stephen
PY - 2015/3/4
Y1 - 2015/3/4
N2 - Despite scientific evidence about the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco (SLT), it is widely used in Bangladesh. This study explored perceptions about health effects of SLT use. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 1812 nonsmoking adults. About 40% of the participants were current SLT users or had used SLT in the past. Family members' influence was the main factor for initiation. The participants believed that people continued using SLT because of addiction (52%) and as a part of their lifestyle (23%). The majority of participants (77%) did not mention any benefit, but SLT users considered it to be a remedy for toothache (P <.05). Almost all participants mentioned that SLT was harmful and causes heart disease, cancer, and tuberculosis. Doctors' advice was the common motivating factor to quit. Health promotion interventions should highlight the adverse effects of SLT use, which outweigh the perceived benefits, and should consider addressing the role of family in SLT initiation and use.
AB - Despite scientific evidence about the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco (SLT), it is widely used in Bangladesh. This study explored perceptions about health effects of SLT use. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 1812 nonsmoking adults. About 40% of the participants were current SLT users or had used SLT in the past. Family members' influence was the main factor for initiation. The participants believed that people continued using SLT because of addiction (52%) and as a part of their lifestyle (23%). The majority of participants (77%) did not mention any benefit, but SLT users considered it to be a remedy for toothache (P <.05). Almost all participants mentioned that SLT was harmful and causes heart disease, cancer, and tuberculosis. Doctors' advice was the common motivating factor to quit. Health promotion interventions should highlight the adverse effects of SLT use, which outweigh the perceived benefits, and should consider addressing the role of family in SLT initiation and use.
KW - Bangladesh
KW - chewing tobacco
KW - perceptions of smokeless tobacco use
KW - perceptions of tobacco use
KW - smokeless tobacco
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84926370092&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1010539512446957
DO - 10.1177/1010539512446957
M3 - Article
C2 - 22652250
AN - SCOPUS:84926370092
SN - 1010-5395
VL - 27
SP - NP2197-NP2209
JO - Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
JF - Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
IS - 2
ER -