Chennai: The use of smokeless forms of tobacco is more prevalent among women than the smoking forms of the substance. As per the findings of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GAT S), conducted by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, 20.3% of females in the age group of 15 years and above consume tobacco in some form or other.
Recently, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan stated in his written reply to the Rajya Sabha that a number of steps have been taken by the government to discourage tobacco use both among males and females. The minister has written to all the Chief Ministers to consider adopting a comprehensive taxation policy for all tobacco products.
Anti-tobacco activist Cyril Alexander says the percentage of females consuming tobacco in any form should be more than that.
“The sample size in GA TS done in 2010 was very less and the percentage at present should be much higher. While there’s more awareness about the ill effects of smoking, the other forms of tobacco are hardly highlighted,” he said.
“In rural areas, chewable tobacco has become more common among women,” says Alexander, adding almost 50 per cent of the population in villages consumes tobacco in different forms.
Dr E. Vidhubala, associate professor and head, department of Psycho-oncology, Resource Centre for Tobacco Control, Cancer Institute (WIA) says while 43 percent of cancer among men is tobacco-related, it’s 17 percent for women in India. “This applies to Tamil Nadu as well as the Madras Metropolitan Tumour (MMTR) too points out the same percentage. The effects of consuming tobacco would not be reflected immediately as it takes 20-30 years. Now, smoking among women is increasing and also oral cancer,” she added.
