Smoked and smokeless tobacco use among pulmonary tuberculosis patients under RNTCP in urban Puducherry, India.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is associated with unfavourable treatment outcomes like failures and defaults among the TB patients.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence and pattern of tobacco use among the pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients in urban Pondicherry and study the association of various socio-demographic variables with current smoked and smokeless tobacco users.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 235 PTB patients from 6 randomly selected urban PHCs of Pondicherry from Jan 2013 to March 2014. Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence was used. Chi-square test and multiple-logistic regression were done.

RESULTS: Prevalence of smoking among the PTB patients at the time of TB diagnosis was 35.3%, whereas the same during the continuation phase (CP) was 23.4%. Among 83 smokers at the time of diagnosis, 52 modified and 31 did not modify their smoking after TB diagnosis. Similarly, prevalence of smokeless tobacco use both at the time of TB diagnosis and during CP was 9.8%. Male and lower education level was associated with current smoking. Similarly, female and lower education level was associated with current smokeless tobacco use.

CONCLUSIONS: One-third of PTB patients used smoked or smokeless tobacco during their CP. Health programme needs to concentrate on PTB patients who continue to use smoked or smokeless tobacco during their treatment; necessary interventions need to be planned.