https://imcjms.com/public Ibrahim Medical College Journal of Medical Science https://imcjms.com/public/registration/journal_full_text/123 Mon, 31 Oct 2016 11:41:18 +0000 Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2008; 2(2): 58-60 Key Words: Tobacco consumption, smoking, rural community. Address for Correspondence: Dr. Shaila Ahmed, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Ibrahim Medical College           Variables %        15-30 yrs 41.1 275      > 60 yrs 8.9        Male 68.4 174 Education   191      Can Read & Write 13.3 123      Secondary 22.5 39 Occupation   81      Service 10.4 151      Day labourer 9.3 210 Housing   339      Kacha 28.5 54      Sanitary Latrines   478      Absent 13.1        Tk 0-3,000 34.0 241      Tk 6,001-10,000 22.2     About 42% of the smokers puffed 6-20 sticks daily while the frequency of chewing was 1-5 times a day in 59% of them as shown in Table 2. A large percentage of the respondents (94%) knew about the adverse health effects of tobacco consumption while the rest 6% had no idea about the ill effects. Table-2: Frequency of tobacco consumption (n=426) n Smoking (sticks per day)   80       6-20 41.8 69 Chewing (times per day)   173       6-10 22.4 56   Discussion This cross sectional study was done in a rural community of Sreepur thana with an attempt to determine the prevalence and pattern of tobacco consumption, and to know whether the respondents had any knowledge regarding the bad health effects of this habit. A total of 550 respondents were interviewed, out of whom 426 were found to be consumers of tobacco. Most of the people residing in the study areas were found to be illiterate (35%) with only 22% having primary or secondary level education. Forty four percent of the households had a monthly expenditure of Tk.3001-6000. Majority of the houses were tin roofed (61.6%) and sanitary latrine was present in 87% of them. Prevalence of tobacco consumption found among the 15 years and above age group was 77.5%. Smokers constituted 59.1% and chewers 41%. The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2004 found the overall prevalence of tobacco consumption to be 59%.6 In another study conducted in 1995 to estimate the global prevalence, it was seen that smoking habit was highest in persons aged 30 to 49 years. Low- and middle-income countries accounted for 82% of the world’s smokers. In East Asia and the Pacific, 32% of the population aged 15 years and older were tobacco consumers.1 This study found that 69.1% of the smokers preferred cigarettes and the rest bidi. Jarda was the most popular form of chewing found among the chewers (94.6%). BDHS 2004 concluded bidi smoking to be 29.6%, cigarette smoking 27.8% and chewing betel quid with tobacco/jarda 17.5% respectively. A study conducted in India found 50 to 80% of the smokers smoke bidis, and the remainder smoke cigarettes.7 Forty two percent smokers consumed 6-20 sticks daily as estimated in this study while frequency of chewing was 1-5 times a day in about 59% of chewers. Surprisingly it was seen that majority of the respondents (94%) knew about the adverse health effects of tobacco consumption although they made no efforts to quit the habit. This figure was found to be 80% in another study conducted among the population of some developing counties.8 Conclusion and Recommendation This cross sectional study was a limited attempt in a rural community of Bangladesh to estimate the prevalence of tobacco consumption and some other associated variables. The calculated prevalence was 77.5% which is quite alarming compared to some previous data. It indicates that both communicable and non communicable disease burden will rise in the future. Although majority of the consumers knew about the adverse health effects of smoking and chewing tobacco, they were reluctant to give up the habit. This study suggests that planning anti-smoking campaigns and health education programs for the general mass needs to be geared up. Further in-depth studies to find out the factors related to tobacco consumption and inability to quit, along with the health hazards present among the consumers will be of great value. References 2.   Peto R, Lopez AD. The Future Worldwide Health Effects of Current Smoking Patterns.  Global Health in the 21st Century. New York, NY: Jossey-Bass 2000; 154–161. 4.   Ahmed S, Rahman A, Hull S. Use of Betel Quid and Cigarettes Among Bangladeshi patients in an Inner-City Practice: Prevalence and Knowledge of Health Effects. Br J Gen  Pract 1997; 47(420): 431–434.  6.  Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2004. (Dhaka, National Institute of Population and Training, Mitra and Associates, ORC Macro). 9.   Peto R, Lopez AD, Boreham J, Thun M, Heath C. Mortality from Smoking in Developing Countries, 1950-2000. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994. The following students of IM-4B were involved in this study: Ishita Mou, Shanjida Hoque, Nurun Nahar, Maftahul Jannaty, Tamanna Hossain Editor’s Note: In continuation of our interest in publishing articles resulting from our Residential Field Site Training (RFST) Programme for the 4th year MBBS students, we are publishing this article. Articles resulting from  RFST Programme  were published in our previous issues. 2026 Ibrahim Medical College. All rights reserved.