BMJ  2004;328 (3 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7443.0-e

Who smokes in India?

Consumption of tobacco is more common among poorer people in India, but there are differences between regions, religions, and castes. Analysing data on more than 300 000 adults from the 1998-9 national family health survey, Subramanian and colleagues (p 801) found that older men, married people, and poorly educated people were more likely to consume tobacco by smoking, chewing, or both. Muslims and Hindus were more likely to smoke than Christians, and a greater proportion of the population in the north east than in the southern and western states consumed tobacco, independent of socioeconomic status. Differences in tobacco consumption may increase the imbalance of adult health in future, conclude the authors.

Credit: P VIROT/WHO

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Relevant Article

Patterns and distribution of tobacco consumption in India: cross sectional multilevel evidence from the 1998-9 national family health survey

S V Subramanian, Shailen Nandy, Michelle Kelly, Dave Gordon, and George Davey Smith
BMJ 2004 328: 801-806. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]