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Tobacco use in South Asians

In 2004, when compared with the national average of the whole population where 24% of adult men smoke, the Health Survey of England 2005-Minority Ethnic Groups shows that in South Asians 40% of Bangladeshi men, 29% of Pakistani men and 20% of Indian men smoke.

Nationally, 23% of Adult women smoke. Women in South Asian communities smoke less. 5% Indian, 5% Pakistani and 2 % Bangladeshi women smoke. However, 16 % of Bangladeshi women chew tobacco paan.

Tobacco use must be seen in relation to the total health status of the community. See the Department of Health Data revealing health inequalities. Poor diets and high underlying presence of diabetes type 2 and heart disease are compounded by high tobacco use.

Health Survey of England 2004

Products-Historical Picture

Tobacco leaf  was first introduced into South Asia around 1600s. It is now consumed in a number of products:

bulletChewed as cured tobacco leaf-Zarda, Gutkha and Qimam
bulletSnorted as snuff like naswar
bulletSmoked as cigarettes, Bedis and in chelum/hookah pipes
bulletChewed in paans (Betel leaf)
bulletUsed as a dental powder and creams

See Full Product Type and Ingredients: Fact Sheet on Smokeless Tobacco Products 

Asian Quitline experience in the UK

A Health Education Authority rresearch report  "Tobacco use by Black and Ethnic Minorities-1999" found that smokers from minority ethnic groups are just as motivated to quit smoking as their counterparts in the main UK population as a whole. A higher proportion of smokers from minority groups reported having firm plans to quit smoking , with 45% Bangladeshis, 40 % Indians and 36% of Pakistanis planning to quit compared to 29% of the UK smoking population. Despite these plans, a smaller percentage report having quit over 10 years compared to the UK population of ex-smokers (3% of Indians, 6% of Bangladeshis and Pakistanis report being ex-smokers compared to 22% of the general population).

The profile of service users at Asian Quitline shows that their call to the service was their first attempt at doing something about their smoking behavior. The accessibility to advice from their GP and other alternatives may be an important barrier to quitting. Few callers report attempting Nicotine Replacement Therapy, reading information from other agencies and taking medical advice.

Profile of our service users: profile

Our promotional activity has yielded great results and we are committed towards helping Asian smokers who want to quit by offering them quality and accessible services. promotional

Other tobacco related interests: Historical Roots 

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Last modified: Wednesday August 19, 2009.