International Journal of Contemporary Research in Multidisciplinary

Abstract:

Background: Alcohol and tobacco consumption are major public health concerns worldwide, particularly in India. This study investigates the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and smoking behaviors among men across different age groups, residences, educational levels, occupations, religions, castes, and wealth indices in India.

Methods: The study used cross-sectional data from 93,144 men aged 15-49 years. Logistic regression models were applied to assess the odds ratios (OR) of alcohol and tobacco use, smoking cigarettes, and smoking bidis across various socio-demographic variables. The results are presented in odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI), providing insight into the likelihood of substance use behaviors relative to reference categories.

Results: Alcohol consumption was highest among men aged 35-49 years (OR: 5.02 [4.66-5.14]), and tobacco use peaked among those with no schooling (61.8%). Men in rural areas were more likely to consume alcohol and tobacco than their urban counterparts (OR for rural alcohol consumption: 0.86 [0.82-0.89], tobacco: 0.87 [0.83-0.90]). Lower educational attainment was strongly associated with higher odds of alcohol and tobacco use, particularly among those with less than five years of schooling. Agricultural workers and manual laborers exhibited a higher prevalence of substance use, with manual workers having the highest odds of alcohol consumption (OR: 2.82 [2.64-3.01]). Significant disparities in substance use were found across religions, with Muslims reporting lower odds of alcohol consumption (OR: 0.14 [0.13-0.15]) compared to Hindus. Smoking behaviors were significantly influenced by wealth, with men in the lowest wealth quintile showing the highest prevalence of bidi smoking (14.3%) and cigarette smoking (14.8%).

Conclusion: Substance use in India is influenced by a range of socio-demographic factors, with higher risks observed among older men, rural residents, less educated individuals, and manual workers. Public health interventions must target these vulnerable groups to reduce the burden of alcohol and tobacco-related harm.

Reference: Data adapted from a large-scale survey on substance use among Indian men.

Keywords:

Alcohol, Tobacco, Public Health, Cigarettes, Smoking Bidis

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Methods