Unveiling the socioeconomic predictors of tobacco use in women: Evidence from NFHS-5

Introduction- Approximately 8 million deaths globally are linked to tobacco use with the bulk of these deaths occurring in countries with low- and middle-income. In these regions deaths tolls from tobacco is projected to rise to 10 million by 2030. There are about 1 million adult deaths in India each year due to it, with women being predominantly vulnerable because of the effects on their reproductive and child health.
Methodology - This research employs data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), a cross-sectional survey carried out throughout India. The sample comprised 724,115 women aged 15 and older. The analysis assessed the prevalence of both smoking and non-smoking (smokeless) forms of tobacco. Demographic factors, including aspects such as age, educational attainment, caste, and wealth index, were analyzed using SPSS, and logistic regression was applied to identify significant associations between them.
Results - In the overall findings, 4% of the total women surveyed indicated use of some type of tobacco, with smokeless products such as Gutkha and Khaini being the most prevalent. Tobacco consumption was seen significantly lower after Multivariate analysis among less educated women, followed Christianity, and those belonging to the poorest wealth quintiles.
Conclusion- Indian Women’s Tobacco consumption is highly associated with socioeconomic predictors. Educational status, rural residence, and caste disparities play a vital role. For tobacco use reduction among women in India to be effective, targeted initiatives that emphasize education and rural populations are needed.