Publication:

Proportion of smokers and its determinants among migrant workers in Mysore, Karnataka, India

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about 4 million deaths worldwide annually are attributable to tobacco use. There are more than 20 million of construction workers in India at present. The unhygienic situation, working pattern, absence of any recreational activity and company of friends force them to indulge in various abuse activities. The objective of the studies was proportion of smokers in migrant workers in Mysore city and to know the determinants of smoking among migrant workers in Mysore city, India.

Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 375 migrant workers in Mysore city, from 01.08.2105 to 01.10.2015. “Direct interview method” of primary source of information technique was used for data collection. A pre-tested semi-structured was used to meet the objectives of the study.

Results The overall proportion of smokers was 35%. The mean age of initiation of smoking was 20.35 years and the reason was peer pressure, duration of smoking was 12.46 years. 46% of smokers had intention to quit smoking, others gave a reason as addiction (67.2%) for not quitting. Significant association was found between tobacco use and socio-economic parameters such as age group, marital and socio economic status. It was also found that workers who were migrants for more than 20 years had significantly higher proportions of smokers.

Conclusions The proportion of smokers was 36.2%.Significant determinants of smoking were those aged more than 40 years, those of lower socio economic status, those married and more than 20 years as a migrant worker.