Year: 2026 | Month: February | Volume: 16 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 220-227
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260225
Tobacco Use and Nicotine Dependence: Prevalence and Predictors Among Residents in Selected Slums of Kolkata
Sreetama Chakrabarti1, Abhipsa Dey2, Sayantani Bhunia3
1,2,3Department of Community Medicine, IPGME & R and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Abhipsa Dey
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In India, it accounts for nearly one million deaths annually, with both smoked and smokeless forms being widely consumed. Nicotine dependence is a critical barrier to successful cessation, yet evidence on its determinants remains limited.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of tobacco use, nicotine dependence and its predictor among tobacco users in selected slums of Kolkata.
Materials and Methods: A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 327 residents aged ≥15 years in the urban field practice area of a tertiary medical college, Kolkata, during April–May 2024. Participants were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire including the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Descriptive statistics were applied, and association was tested using chi-square, ANOVA, and binary logistic regression.
Results: The prevalence of tobacco use was 51%, of which 24% were smokers, 18% smokeless users, and 9% dual users. The mean (±SD) age of initiation was 18.7±4.3 years. High nicotine dependence was observed among 75.5% of smokers and 62.6% of smokeless users. Male gender (aOR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.02–4.23), unmarried status (aOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.17–3.01), and higher socioeconomic class (aOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0–2.5) were significantly associated with tobacco use. Age at initiation and duration of use were significantly associated with nicotine dependence.
Conclusion: Tobacco use and nicotine dependence were high in the study population. Focused interventions targeting adolescents, stricter enforcement of tobacco control laws, and provision of culturally sensitive cessation support are essential to reduce the burden.
Key words: Tobacco use, Nicotine dependence, Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), Fagerström test