Factors for Quitting Tobacco Consumption among the Male Bangladeshi Garments Workers: A Cross Sectional Study

Despite enormous adverse effects, tobacco consumption is increasing with very little success of cessation programs. This is very important to have update knowledge regarding the factors attributed to the failed attempts for quitting tobacco consumption. The study was intended to find out the factors associated with quitting tobacco consumption among the male Bangladeshi garments workers. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 451 randomly selected workers of four purposively selected garments at Gazipur and Savar, Dhaka. After permission from the garments authorities and informed verbal consent from the selected respondents, data were collected by principal investigator using pre-tested interview schedule through face-to-face interview with privacy. After completion of each interview, questionnaire was cross-checked for completeness, consistency and discrepancy. Participants had freedom to withdraw from the study at any time without explaining any reason and data confidentiality was ensured strictly. The procedure did not have physical, mental and social risks. All other ethical issues and measures for data quality were taken into due consideration. Data were analyzed using computer software SPSS version 25.0 and presented in tables and diagrams. Nearly half 206(45.7%) of the workers were in age group 26 to 33 years with a mean of 28.85±8.03 years. Religion of 387(85.8%) respondents was Islam, while 278(61.6%) had completed secondary education. More than three-fifths 282(62.5%) of the workers were married with a mean family size of 4.24±1.44. As many as 379(84.0%) workers had monthly income less than 15000 Taka with a mean of 13212.86±1573.08 Taka. An overwhelming number 411(91.1%) of respondents started tobacco consumption within the age of 13 to 19 years with mean age of initiation of 16.18±2.67 years. Of 451 workers, 446(98.9%) made an effort to quit tobacco. Of them, for 286(64.1%) workers personal health problem was the influencing factor for quitting attempt. As many as 380(85.2%) workers preferred to quit tobacco consumption through reducing the consumption. Nearly three-fifths 264(59.3%) of workers were failed to quit due to bodily addiction. More than four-fifths 375(83.1%) workers affirmed that they could be able to quit tobacco. Nearly three-fourths 326(72.3%) workers did not consult doctor because they believed that they could do it by themselves. Over two-fifths 181(40.6%) of workers attempted for 4 to 10 times for quitting, while majority 213(47.8%) had maximum duration of abstinence for less than 1 week. It can be concluded that workers initiate smoking as teenagers. Personal health problems influence the workers in quitting tobacco. Moreover, they believed that they themselves are enough to do it without consultation with the physicians. A considerable number of workers had planned for quitting as well as attempted to do so more than once. However, all of them failed to do so due to bodily addiction.