Pattern of tobacco consumption among adult women of low socioeconomic community Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess pattern and to determine risk factors associated with tobacco consumption in various forms among adult women above 18 years of age in a low socioeconomic community of Manora Island, Karachi. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted and 200 adult women above 18 years of age were selected using systematic sampling with random start from a community of 5000 people in Manora Island, Karachi. There were 400 households in the community. Every 2nd household was visited and a woman above 18 years was selected. A semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire was administered to respondents by investigators. Data on tobacco consumption and other variables such as age, sex, marital status, education, employment and stress and anxiety related symptoms were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 104 (52%) reported tobacco consumption. Use of huqqa (hubble bubble) was more prevalent (79%). Women above 30 years of age, being married and living in a joint family were more likely to consume tobacco. Illiterate women as compared to women with more than five years of schooling were more likely to consume tobacco (OR = 3.16,95% CI = 1.13-7.72). Women having household income more than 5000 rupees were more likely to consume tobacco (OR = 2.63,95% CI = 1.36-5.09) and face more financial difficulties at home (OR = 4.72, 95% CI = 2.45-9.81). Women consuming tobacco reported anxiety related symptoms more as compared to women who did not consume tobacco. CONCLUSION: Our study concluded that in this particular study setting, huqqa is the commonest form of tobacco consumption among women of low socioeconomic class. They start huqqa usually in childhood and after marriage by peer pressure especially in joint families. Women consuming tobacco report more psychosomatic symptoms and financial difficulties at home.