Differentials of Tobacco Consumption and Its Effect on Illicit Drug Use in Rural Men in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study examined socioeconomic differentials of tobacco consumption and its effect on illicit drug use among rural men, extracting data from the 2004 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Overall, 58.4% of the respondents consumed tobacco either by smoking or chewing. Smoking bidi (33.9%) and cigarette (23.6%) were the most prevalent forms of tobacco use. The prevalence of illicit drug use was 3.5%. The predominant illicit drug used was ganja (2.3%). Socioeconomic and behavioral factors such as age, education, religion, marital status, premarital and extramarital sexuality, and having STDs were found to be significantly (P < .001) associated with tobacco consumption. Multivariate logistic regression analyses yielded significantly (P < .001) increased risk of illicit drug use for different forms of tobacco consumption, for young age, premarital and extramarital sexuality, and non-Muslims. Appropriate measures should be undertaken to prevent smoking and illicit drug use for a healthy Bangladesh.

Keywords

Bangladesh bidi cigarette ganja illicit drug rural men

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