Trends in age of tobacco use initiation over time in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: analysis of cross-sectional nationally representative surveys.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Tobacco use begins at an early age and typically leads to a long-term addiction. The age of initiation for tobacco use is not well studied in South Asia, where 22% of tobacco smokers and 81% of smokeless tobacco (SLT) users reside.

Methods

Data from the nationally representative Global Adult Tobacco Surveys in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan were analysed to examine patterns of initiation among smokers and smokeless tobacco users.

Results

Data on 94 651 individuals were analysed, of which 13 396 reported were ever daily smokers and 17 684 were ever SLT users. The proportion of individuals initiating tobacco use before the age of 15 years has increased over time. The rates of SLT initiation among those aged 15-24 years increased markedly in Bangladesh (by 7.8%

SUBMITTER: Singh L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10729284 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature