Patterns and influencing factors of smokeless tobacco use among pregnant and lactating mothers in urban slums of bhubaneswar, Odisha.

ABSTRACT: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption has several adverse impacts on pregnancy and child health outcomes, particularly among women in low-income settings. SLT use during pregnancy heightens the risks, like preterm births, stillbirth, babies with low birth weight, and small for gestational age. The present qualitative study explored the patterns and contributing factors associated with SLT use behavior among pregnant and lactating mothers in slum settings. We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews among pregnant and lactating women aged 18-49 years in the slums of Bhubaneswar. All participants were current users of smokeless tobacco (SLT) with a history of more than one year of consumption. The interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Participants primaril

SUBMITTER: Kerketta AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12361363 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature