Tobacco use among Taxi Drivers in Mumbai, India: Prevalence and predictors

Addiction to various forms of tobacco, odd work hours with idle breaks in between, and the lack of targeted tobacco cessation services make taxi drivers vulnerable to a range of tobacco-related diseases and cancers.

A total of 400 taxi drivers from Mumbai were enrolled in the study and interviewed using a well-structured questionnaire to collect information about their attitudes, practices regarding tobacco usage, and efforts to quit, after obtaining informed consent. Participants were further provided with health education on the hazards of tobacco use and the importance of smoke-free taxis by trained medical social workers.

The prevalence of current tobacco use was 63.8% (95% CI: 58.8% - 68.5%). Smokeless tobacco was predominant (85.1%), with Khaini (55.7%) being the most commonly used form. The mean age of participants was 39.15 years, and the average age of initiation was 25 years. Curiosity was the primary reason for initiation (45.9%). Graduates and non alcoholic drivers were less likely to use tobacco (OR =0.13 and 0.29, respectively), and this difference was statistically significant. Among the users, 94.5% expressed a desire to quit, 66.3% had attempted to quit, and 69.8% felt they needed assistance to quit.

The study identifies the patterns and predictors of tobacco use among taxi drivers, as well as their need for assistance to quit. These findings will help guide the development of prevention and cessation strategies, ultimately aiming to reduce the risks faced by this population.