Guwahati, May 19 : A report of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a strong note of warning to the North East which has a high prevalence of bidi smoking amongst the younger generation compared to rest of India. In its Bidi Monograph entitled ‘Bidi Smoking and Public health’, the Union Ministry has emphasized the urgent need to protect the poor and illiterate users of bidis, the most vulnerable section of society.
This report, first of its kind concentrating on various aspects of bidi smoking including the socio-economic and public health issues, provides in-depth information on the consumption pattern and the associated usage risks.
As per the report which is a compilation of scientific studies and data and prepared with support from World Health Organization (WHO), Healis Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Sciences and edited by renowned researchers Dr Prakash C Gupta and Dr Samira Asma, the prevalence of daily plus occasional bidi smoking in the North East varied from around 10 per cent to 40 per cent in men and women.
In four of the eight North East states, bidi smoking predominated, while in the rest, cigarette smoking dominated. In addition to cigarette and bidi, ganja smoking mainly by men was also common in the region particularly in Manipur where 23.5 per cent men are into ganja smoking.
Compared to the all India figures, current bidi smoking amongst students in the age group of 13 to 15 was also higher in the region. In Manipur, bidi smoking amongst students, including boys and girls was 14.2 percent, followed by Nagaland at 12.7 per cent, by Mizoram at 10.6 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh at 7.7 per cent, Meghalaya at 7.2 per cent and Assam at 4.6 per cent.
Current and frequent bidi smoking by students was highest in Sikkim with 48.6 per cent.
On the other hand, the report points out that amongst current bidi smokers, over half indicated developing dependence on nicotine. It ranged from 54.5 per cent in Bihar to 98 per cent in Sikkim. Over one tenth of the current bidi smokers also reported using drugs or alcohol which ranged from 0.6 per cent in Manipur to 41.0 per cent in Assam.
The Central report also reveals that current bidi smoking was lowest in Goa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi etc, intermediately high between 4.6 and 9.2 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya etc and high between 10.6 per cent and 14.2 per cent in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
AT
0 comments:
Post a Comment