Predictors of Paan, Nass and Gutka (Oral Tobacco) Use among University Students

Background: Prevalence of cancers associated with the use of oral tobacco (OT) is rising very rapidly and prevention of use is the best option to tackle this scenario. This cross-sectional study estimated the proportion of OT use and predictors associated with its initiation and determined the knowledge, attitude. Method: A total of 354 students (15-30 years age) in five colleges were interviewed by medical students and completed a peer reviewed, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire. Chi square test and logistic regression analyses were applied to the results. Results: Thirty nine (11.0%) students were lifetime users of smokeless tobacco among which nineteen (5.4%) were occasional users, seven (2.0%) were current users and thirteen (3.6%) fulfilled the criterion for established users. Paan was the most commonly used form of smokeless tobacco followed by Nass. On univariate analysis, lifetime use of smokeless tobacco showed significant associations with the use of cigarettes, student gender (M > F), individual condition (native > guest) and kind of the College (Engineering > Psychology). Conclusion: We suggest socially and culturally acceptable educational and behavioral interventions for control of OT usage and hence to prevent its associated cancers.