Tobacco Use Pattern, Dependence, Oral Cancer Awareness and Health Education needs Among Urban Slum Dwellers of Jodhpur City

BACKGROUND: The rapid migration from rural to urban region results in mushrooming of slums in India. Urban-slums are comparatively poor vulnerable groups which are mostly affected with oral cancer due to higher exposure to risk factors like tobacco use. AIMS: To assess pattern of tobacco consumption, awareness about oral cancer and related health education needs in urban slums of Jodhpur city. METHODS: Study was conducted during July 2018Nov 2018 in slum of Jodhpur city. On the basis of cluster sampling strategy data were collected from 1200 participants regarding tobacco use and perception regarding oral cancer to identify health education needs in urban slums. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, multivariate logistics analysis were used and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 1200 participants were surveyed, out of which 48.5% were males. Among the study population, 58.5% (n = 462/789) males and 41.45% (n = 327/789) females were consuming tobacco in one or more forms. The statistical association between: age and bidi, gutka, zarda consumption; gender and bidi, cigarette, gutka consumption was found to be significant (P < 0.001). The younger population (1530 years) has more willingness to quit tobacco than the older population. (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.092.11). Almost 56% were aware of oral cancer. CONCLUSIONS: An effective information, education and communication (IEC) strategy for tobacco cessation should be designed with focus on different education needs according to age, gender, and education status of slum population.