Chandigarh News/Tobacco Control Policy Report calls for greater awareness

Chandigarh, November 27, 2013: The findings of the Tobacco Control Policy (TCP) India Wave 1 survey, released here today revealed some alarming facts about tobacco control policies in our country which is home to approximately 275 million tobacco users. This Report which is a collaborative effort of researchers at the Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, India and the University of Waterloo, Canada was based on the result of a survey of adult tobacco users and tobacco non-users in Maharashtra (MH), Bihar (BR), West Bengal (WB) and Madhya Pradesh (MP). Current tobacco use among adults aged 15 years and older in Maharashtra was 28% (23% in MP, 47% in BR; 33% in WB).
In Maharashtra, more than 80% of tobacco users expressed regret for starting to use tobacco; ( >60% in other three states) and in Maharashtra itself more than 91% of tobacco users and non-users believed that the use of smoked and/or smokeless tobacco products was ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’. In all the four states, tobacco use was higher among less educated males from low income group.
Despite growing awareness in both urban and rural India combined with a complete ban on the advertising of tobacco products, a fairly large section of Indian population is still exposed to the advertising and promotion of tobacco products. This is a clear indication of the fact that there is a need for more effective implementation of the laws on ban on advertisement of all tobacco products in all media. In Maharashtra, approximately three years after implementation of the 2008 National smoke-free law, level of awareness of smoke-free laws was only 35% (ranged from 18% MP to 59% in WB, 54% in Bihar) clearly indicating a need for wider dissemination and awareness about smoke-free laws.
Dr. Prakash C. Gupta, Managing Director, Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health said that “the study findings clearly emphasize that stronger tobacco control policies and their effective implementation would be supported by people of Maharashtra. There is still a considerable exposure to advertising of tobacco products but the high degree of support for complete ban on advertising and smoking in enclosed workplaces as other public places. It is amazing that over 80% of tobacco users in Maharashtra regret starting their tobacco use.Government policies need to be stronger to discourage children and young adults in Maharashtra towards starting any tobacco use”.
Dr. Mangesh S. Pednekar, Director (Development & Research), Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health said that “Current regulations on tobacco advertising in India still allow for exemptions which had created loopholes for tobacco industries to focus its marketing efforts in unregulated venues such as point of sale. Globally strong price and taxation policies have consistently been shown to be the most effective tobacco control measure, mainly because the product became unaffordable. Therefore, it is urgent need for Indian central and state governments to take strong measure to close open loopholes and to act swiftly to reduce affordability of all tobacco products.”
 “Tobacco use accounts for nearly half of all cancers among males and a one-quarter of all cancers among females and is also a major cause of cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Users who are addicted to this deadly substance are often unaware of the serious health risks of tobacco. Educating them about the health hazards of tobacco use and effective pictorial warnings on tobacco products can help people to quit and may also dissuade others from embracing this deadly habit.”, said Dr. Surendra S. Shastri, Tata Memorial Hospital.
About The TCP India Project
The International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project is an international comparative study that examines the effects of tobacco control policy measures in 22 countries by following large cohorts of smokers over time in each country. The TCP India Survey was conducted in four Indian states, centered on a major city and its surrounding rural district in each state, by researchers from the Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health in India in partnership with the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project at the University of Waterloo. The TCP India Survey was conducted among a representative random sample of adult (aged 15 years and older) tobacco users (smokers and smokeless tobacco users) and non-tobacco users residing in Bihar (Patna), Madhya Pradesh (Indore), Maharashtra (Mumbai), and West Bengal (Kolkata). All interviews were conducted face-to-face between August2010 and December 2011.
About Healis-Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health
Healis-Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health has committed itself to advancing public health through innovative science and evidence-based policy. It conducts quality research in public health domain and carries forward its outcome for the benefit of the society.