Smokeless tobacco use in Nepal

Abstract

Tobacco use is widely prevalent in different forms in Nepal. These habits are deeply rooted among different age groups and gender. There is no information available on all aspects of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use and its implications in Nepal. To review the types of SLT products available in Nepal, prevalence of SLT use, correlates of SLT use, SLT-related harm, and existing gaps in information and policy implications. This review is mainly based on information from literature, and some WHO and other documents. The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use is high, particularly among males and disadvantaged groups. SLT users have multiple habits of tobacco chewing, smoking and drinking. Despite SLT products being manufactured in the unorganized sector, they are also largely imported from India. People have easy access to various SLT products. There is a general lack of information on the health hazards of SLT use to the population. This calls for research on the issue. In order to succeed in reducing SLT use in Nepal, addressing the challenges of enforcing the Tobacco Control Act through a multisectoral approach and developing capacity of sectors other than health is of vital importance.

Smoking and smokeless tobacco use in nine South and Southeast Asian countries: prevalence estimates and social determinants from Demographic and Health Surveys

“…Low prevalence of smoking and SLT use among women as reported earlier [17],[34] is not surprising since it is socially unacceptable for women to smoke in South Asian communities [36]. However, SLT use was common in India, Nepal, and Cambodia, confirming the results of previous studies [11],[37]. …”

Correlates of smoking susceptibility among adolescents in a peri-urban area of Nepal: a population-based cross-sectional study in the Jhaukhel-Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site

“…Among 10 significant factors (sociodemographic as well as family and childhood environmental factors) in univariate analysis, only four factors demonstrated significant association with smoking susceptibility ( P <0.05). The model was statistical significant, that is, there was a significant relationship between smoking susceptibility and family and childhood environmental factors (LR chi 24=38.36, Prob>Chi-square (4)<0.001) and therefore all other family and childhood risk factors including sex were dropped from the model (for P >0.05 and P <0.1). The highest adjusted R 2 was 0.18 indicating that collinearity was not present among the risk factors included in the model.…”

“…A study from India revealed that tobacco advertisements significantly influenced the use of tobacco products among adolescents (47), despite bans against tobacco advertising (17). Similarly, Nepal has banned tobacco advertisements since 1998 but ineffective implementation of policies results in continuous exposure of adolescents (3, 4). …”

“…The Government of Nepal has signed the FCTC and established tobacco control polices and laws that combat the use of tobacco products. However, these policies remain ineffective due to limited resources and poor implementation (3, 4). …”

Tobacco Use Among Long Route Bus Drivers and Staffs of Dharan Eastern Nepal a KAP Study

“…[3] Similarly, Nepal Adolescents and Youth Survey (NAYS) published in 2012 revealed 13% of adolescents and youth ever used smoking or smokeless tobacco and 6% used illicit drugs. [4] As noted by Sinha et al [5] in 2012, prevalence of smokeless tobacco was 18.6% among adults aged 15-64 years; 31.2% among males and 4.6% among females. 'A study conducted comparing the tobacco use among youth of Bangladesh, Nepal and Srilanka revealed prevalence is high in Nepal (9.4%) than Bangladesh (6.9%) and Srilanka (9.1%) but the age of initiation of tobacco use was the highest among Nepali youth (10.24 yrs.)…”