A Policy Perspective on the Global Use of Smokeless Tobacco

Jain

Indian Journal of Medical Research

et al. 2020

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is widespread across many nations and populations, and India shares more than three-quarters of the global burden of SLT consumption. Tobacco use in India has been largely viewed as a male-dominant behaviour. However, evidence from medical, social and behavioural sciences show significant SLT use among women and young girls. This paper highlights key dimensions of SLT use among women in India including prevalence and determinants, the health effects arising from SLT use and cessation behaviours. The paper concludes by providing recommendations with the aim of setting research priorities and policy agenda to achieve a tobacco-free society. The focus on women and girls is essential to achieve the national targets for tobacco control under the National Health Policy, 2017, and Sustainable Development Goals 3 of ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all.

Section: Marketing Promotion and Regulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

White paper on smokeless tobacco & women's health in India

Jain

Indian Journal of Medical Research

et al. 2020

“…To identify gaps in implementing key SLT demand-reduction measures, Siddiqi et al confirmed the limited content of the published literature and pointed out the fact that most studies were conducted outside Southeast Asia, the geographical region with the highest SLT prevalence of use 41. They concluded that the literature supports that some SLT demand-reduction measures have been implemented; however, for taxation, labelling and packaging, most administrations have weaker policies for SLT than for cigarettes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the WHO FCTC on non-cigarette tobacco products

Zaatari

Bazzi

2018

Tob Control

The FCTC provided a framework that applies to all forms of tobacco and this encouraged some parties to adopt control measures against NCTP and to incorporate them into their national tobacco control plans. Although a number of countries have adopted measures specifically targeted towards smokeless and waterpipe tobacco, greater global progress is needed. The strongest achievements have been in protection from exposure to tobacco smoke; controlling advertising, promotion and sponsorship; controlling sales to and by minors; education, communication and public awareness; and packaging and labelling of NCTP. Countries which adopted broad definitions of tobacco products have demonstrated encouraging trends in curbing their use. Future work should address the deep-rooted social acceptance of NCTP, the laxity in their control, their exclusion from regulations in some countries and the failure to subject them to increased taxation. Control measures should also specifically target the initiation risk to youth and adolescents and all factors that contribute to that such as banning flavourings and promotions through social media. Stronger global surveillance of NCTP use, tracking of policy implementation and evaluation of policy impact will provide important evidence to assist parties in fully implementing the FCTC to control their use.

Indian Journal of Medical Research

“…The paucity of research and dearth of adequate evidence base on the extent of problem and harmful effects of SLT lead to barriers in effective implementation of SLT control measures by the interested stakeholders 9 . A recent study by Suliankatchi et al 10 reported a shift in the preference of tobacco users from smoking to SLT use in SEAR countries including Bangladesh, India and Nepal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Setting research priorities in smokeless tobacco control

Gulati¹,

Kumar²,

Dhama³

et al. 2018

Background & objectives:Smokeless tobacco (SLT) has become a global menace; India being one of the high-burden countries contributes about 67 per cent of its users. Although research is ongoing on various aspects of SLT use and its effects, there is a need to identify the still under-researched areas in this field. This study was aimed at delineating the quantum of research on various topics of SLT, with intent to delineate research gaps for guiding future research priorities.Methods:Data about research in SLT were collected from PubMed database using ‘smokeless tobacco’ as a keyword and applying Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms filter. Data were extracted in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format and parsed into database to extract necessary fields such as PubMed IDs, authors’ names, affiliations and MeSH terms. Quantum of research in various aspects of SLT was identified for individual MeSH terms and compared for global and Indian data.Results:Data analysis of 2857 records revealed that maximum number of articles was devoted to adverse effects (35.6%) followed by epidemiology (32.4%). In comparison, India contributed only 11.7 per cent of records with maximum number of articles on the topics of epidemiology (26%) and adverse effects (45.8%). Higher proportion of research was published on epidemiology, aetiology and prevention and control at global level, while adverse effects of SLT were researched more in Indian studies as compared to global data.Interpretation & conclusions:The present analysis highlighted the paucity of research studies on important topics such as economics and alternative strategies of SLT control, both on the global and regional levels.