Prevalence and predictors of smokeless tobacco use among high-school males in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 3 towns in Karachi, Pakistan to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with the use of smokeless tobacco among 772 high-school adolescent males. A structured questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic factors and history of cigarette and smokeless tobacco use. Prevalence of smokeless tobacco use [‎gutka, snuff, niswar]‎ was 16.1% [‎95% CI: 13.5%-18.9%]‎. On multiple logistic regression analysis, the factors significantly related to smokeless tobacco use among the sample were: attending government school [‎adjusted odds ratio [‎OR]‎ 6.3]‎, smoking cigarettes [‎OR 3.2]‎, not seeing anti-tobacco advertisements [‎OR 1.5]‎, family history of tobacco use [‎OR 3.9]‎, use of betel quid [‎OR 2.9]‎ and use of areca nut [‎OR 3.2]‎