Tobacco Use Among Middle-Aged Population in India: Prevalence, Patterns, and Health Implications – A Comprehensive Review

  • Unique Paper ID: 182277
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 2
  • PageNo: 928-936
  • Abstract:
  • Tobacco use among the middle-aged population in India represents a significant public health challenge with increasing prevalence and severe health consequences. This systematic review synthesizes existing research on tobacco consumption patterns, prevalence rates, and associated health risks among middle-aged individuals in India and globally. A comprehensive search of multiple databases was conducted to identify relevant studies examining tobacco use patterns, cessation behaviors, and intervention effectiveness. The review included cross-sectional studies, community-based surveys, and intervention trials conducted across various Indian states and international settings. Results indicate alarming prevalence rates of tobacco use, with 37.2% of study populations reporting ever-tobacco use, including 32.9% current users and only 4.3% successful quitters. Smokeless tobacco forms, particularly Mawa-masala (63.7%) and Gutka (57.6%), dominate consumption patterns, with users typically consuming tobacco 6-8 times daily. The initiation age commonly falls between 15-30 years, with strong familial influences (63.8% family exposure). Despite moderate awareness of health hazards, cessation rates remain disappointingly low, with only 28.4% of current users expressing willingness to quit. Health complications serve as the primary motivation for cessation (72.2% of quitters). Educational interventions showed promising results, with structured teaching programs demonstrating significant knowledge improvement from 38.67% to 74.67%. The evidence strongly links tobacco use, especially smokeless forms, to serious health consequences including oral and throat cancers, with case-control studies showing 39-fold increased risk among users. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive, multi-sectoral interventions targeting awareness, cessation support, and policy implementation to address this growing epidemic in India's middle-aged population.

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