Tobacco Use among Rural Women in Tamil Nadu, India: Patterns, Perceptions, and Policy Implications for Cessation

Dayal Dev; Suman Kanougiya

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.60442

Tobacco Use among Rural Women in Tamil Nadu, India: Patterns, Perceptions, and Policy Implications for Cessation

Author(s)	Mr. Dayal Dev, Dr. Suman Kanougiya
Country	India
Abstract	Introduction Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among rural women in India is an under-recognized public health issue, deeply rooted in social norms, limited awareness, and structural inequities. Despite existing tobacco control policies, gendered dimensions of tobacco use and cessation remain poorly addressed, especially in underserved rural settings. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and patterns of tobacco use among rural women in Tamil Nadu, and to explore their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions related to tobacco cessation. It also sought to identify key sociodemographic correlates influencing tobacco behaviour. Methods A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 274 women aged 18 years and above, across four randomly selected villages in Theni district, Tamil Nadu. A structured questionnaire, adapted from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) and translated into Tamil, was administered through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed using Stata 14 to examine associations between tobacco use and sociodemographic characteristics. Results The prevalence of current tobacco use was 13.9%, with smokeless tobacco being more common (11.3%) than smoking (3.6%). Use was significantly higher among widowed, uneducated women and those in manual labour (p < 0.001). Peer and family influence played a major role in initiation. While 68.4% expressed willingness to quit if support were available, stress relief, low perceived harm, and social acceptance were common reasons for continued use. Although awareness of cancer risks was high, knowledge of reproductive and metabolic effects was limited. Only 15.3% had been screened by healthcare providers. Conclusion Tobacco use among rural women is shaped by intersecting structural and psychosocial factors. The findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive, community-based cessation interventions that include family engagement, peer support systems, and culturally relevant communication strategies. Integrating cessation services into primary healthcare and leveraging community health workers can enhance access, awareness, and sustained behaviour change among rural women.
Keywords	smokeless tobacco, rural women, cessation, health belief model, socio-ecological model
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-11-17
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.60442

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Tobacco Use among Rural Women in Tamil Nadu, India: Patterns, Perceptions, and Policy Implications for Cessation

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