Changes in Tobacco Use Patterns during COVID-19 and Their Correlates among Older Adults in Bangladesh

Sabuj Kanti Mistry, Armm Mehrab Ali, Md. Ashfikur Rahman, Uday Narayan Yadav, Bhawna Gupta, Muhammad Aziz Rahman and Rumana Huque
Additional contact information
Sabuj Kanti Mistry: Department of Health Research, ARCED Foundation, 13/1, Pallabi, Mirpur-12, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
Armm Mehrab Ali: Department of Health Research, ARCED Foundation, 13/1, Pallabi, Mirpur-12, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
Md. Ashfikur Rahman: Development Studies Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
Uday Narayan Yadav: Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Bhawna Gupta: Department of Public Health, Torrens University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Muhammad Aziz Rahman: School of Health, Federation University Australia, Berwick, VIC 3806, Australia
Rumana Huque: Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: The present study explored the changes in tobacco use patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and their correlates among older adults in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1032 older adults aged ?60 years in Bangladesh through telephone interviews in October 2020. Participants’ characteristics and COVID-19-related information were gathered using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were asked if they noted any change in their tobacco use patterns (smoking or smokeless tobacco) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (6 months prior to the survey). Nearly half of the participants (45.6%) were current tobacco users, of whom 15.9% reported increased tobacco use during the COVID-19 pandemic and all others had no change in their tobacco use patterns. Tobacco use was significantly increased among the participants from rural areas, who had reduced communications during COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic (OR = 2.76, 95%CI:1.51–5.03). Participants who were aged ?70 years (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14–0.77), widowed (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.13–1.00), had pre-existing, non-communicable, and/or chronic conditions (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.25–0.78), and felt themselves at the highest risk of COVID-19 (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.15–0.62), had significantly lower odds of increased tobacco use. Policy makers and practitioners need to focus on strengthening awareness and raising initiatives to avoid tobacco use during such a crisis period.

Keywords: tobacco use; smoking; smokeless tobacco; COVID-19; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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