Patterns of Nicotine Use Among Women in the Rural Population of Kolar: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background The prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among Indian women, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds with little access to formal education, has been steadily increasing, which is a cause for concern. Women frequently use various forms and companies of powdered, rubbed, and chewed SLT, with or without betelnut and flavorings, often simultaneously, starting at an early age and persisting into their reproductive years. Consequently, they are vulnerable to both the chance of developing cancer and experiencing health issues during pregnancy and childbirth. The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of women using SLT and the factors that were linked to these outcomes. Methodology The community-based analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out for four months (February-May 2024) in the selected rural areas of Kolar district, Karnataka, India. Women aged 15 years and above who lived in the selected rural areas of Kolar district as permanent residents and had a history of nicotine use were included. Women using smoked forms of tobacco and bedridden or terminally ill cancer patients were excluded from the study. An interviewer administered a semistructured interview schedule to collect data. The questionnaire included sections on sociodemographic characteristics (age, education, occupation, marital status, socioeconomic status, and type of family), nicotine use patterns (types of SLT/nicotine products used and mode of use), maternal history, menstrual history, alcohol consumption history, morbidity conditions, and nicotine dependence, which were assessed by Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Results The participants, 92 women, ranged in age from 15 to 80 years old, with a mean age of 41.2 years. Most of the participants were diagnosed with oral cancer (n = 19, 20.7%), followed by esophageal cancer (n = 13, 14.1%). When participants were enquired about the mode of usage of tobacco, most of them used chewable form (n = 43, 46.7%). When dependence was assessed by the Fagerstrom nicotine dependence scale, high dependence was observed in 83.7% of women (n = 77), whereas low-to-moderate dependence was observed in 16.3% of women (n = 15). Among the 92 participants, only 16 participants (17.3%) made attempts to quit using SLT. The sociodemographic factors associated with nicotine dependence included age between 41 and 60 years, illiteracy, lower economic status, widowhood, unmarried status, unemployment, Hindu by religion, nuclear family, non-alcoholic, irregular menstrual cycles, and significant maternal history (P-value less than 0.05). Conclusion The development of tailored interventions that address the specific needs of illiterate, unemployed, lower-class, and unmarried women in nuclear families was observed. These interventions should incorporate mental health screening, psychoeducation, and community-based support to promote cessation of SLT and improve their overall well-being.