Prevalence and factors associated with tobacco use among men in India: findings from a nationally representative data

BACKGROUND@#Tobacco consumption causes almost 638,000 premature deaths per year in India. This study sought to examine the prevalence and determinants of tobacco use among men in India.@*METHODS@#We analyzed data from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey in India. These nationally representative cross-sectional sample data were collected from January 20, 2015, to December 4, 2016. A total of 112,122 men aged 15-54 years were included in this study. Primary outcomes were tobacco use categorized into smoking, smokeless, any tobacco, and both smoked and smokeless tobacco use. Complex survey design and sampling weights were applied in both the descriptive analyses and logistic regression models. We present the findings using odds ratios.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of tobacco use among men in India for the studied period was 45.5% (95% CI 44.9-46.1), smoking was 24.6% (95% CI 24.1-25.1), smokeless tobacco use was 29.1% (95% CI 28.6-29.6), and both smoked and smokeless tobacco use was 8.4% (95% CI 8.1-8.7). The prevalence of tobacco use among men was higher among the elderly, separated/divorced/widowed individuals, those with lower education and wealth status, alcohol consumers, manual workers, and residents of the northeast region. Multivariate analysis showed that age, lower education, occupation, region, alcohol consumption, separated/divorced/widowed status, and economic status were substantially associated with tobacco use among Indian men.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Innovative and cost-effective strategies targeting high-risk groups are crucial to curbing the tobacco epidemic in India. Anti-smoking campaigns should also focus on mitigating alcohol abuse. Reducing tobacco marketing and implementing formal education about the dangers of tobacco use, progressive taxing, packaging, and labeling of tobacco products and price strategies should be harmonized in legal provisions.

Association of biomass fuel smoke with respiratory symptoms among children under 5 years of age in urban areas: results from Bangladesh Urban Health Survey, 2013

BACKGROUND@#Little is known regarding the effect of exposure to biomass fuel smoke inhalation on respiratory symptoms in the Bangladeshi population which is a major health hazard in most of the developing countries. This study aims to explore the association between respiratory symptoms and biomass fuel smoke exposure among children under 5 years of age.@*METHODS@#Data were extracted from the Bangladesh Urban Health Survey conducted in 2013. A total of 10,575 mothers with at least one surviving children were selected. Respiratory symptoms among children under 5 years of age were considered as the primary outcome. Sequential multiple logistic regression models were used to observe the association between respiratory symptoms and biomass fuel smoke exposure adjusting the effect of residential factors and mother and child characteristics.@*RESULTS@#Around 40% of the mothers exclusively used biomass fuel irrespective of the kitchen location and 54% of them were habituated in indoor cooking. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms of under-five children among in-house and outdoor biomass fuel users was 23.0% and 21.9%, respectively. Results of fitted multiple logistic regression models showed that the odds of having respiratory symptoms among children under 5 years of age were increased due to in-house biomass fuel use [OR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04-1.36] compared with the non-biomass user. An increased risk of respiratory symptoms was also significantly associated with mother's birth complication [OR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.36-1.67], non-government organization (NGO) membership of mothers [OR = 1.32; 95% CI, 1.16-1.51], age of the child (6-23m) [OR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.10-1.52], and nutritional status (stunting) [OR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.06-1.31].@*CONCLUSION@#This study found the use of in-house biomass fuel as a significant risk factor associated with respiratory symptoms of children under 5 years of age. More longitudinal studies should be designed to establish a causal relationship between HAP (household air pollution) and respiratory symptoms among children with more direct measures of HAP and clinical procedure.

Comparison of visual outcome between superior scleral tunnel and temporal scleral tunnel approaches in Manual Small-Incision cataract surgery

To compare the postoperative visual acuity, per-operative and post-operative complications and the magnitude of the post-operative astigmatism in [Manual Small Incision cataract surgery [MSICS]] in superior and temporal scleral tunnel approach. A comparative interventional study. The study was conducted at LRBT Secondary Eye Hospital Lar, Multan from Jan 2008 to September 2008. 250 patients, aged from 45 to 90 years, were enrolled and divided into two groups, group A [N=125] and group B [N=125]. Group A underwent MSICS by superior while group B underwent MSICS by temporal scleral tunnel incision approach. The patients were followed up at 1st and 3rd post-operative days and 2nd, 4th and 6th postoperative weeks. 107 patients in group A and 119 patients in group B completed their 6 week follow up. The intraoperative complications, post-operative complications, postoperative visual acuity and magnitude of postoperative astigmatism were recorded at 6 week follow up and compared between two groups. At 6th week postoperatively, 46 of 107 [42.9%] of group A and 79 of 119 [66.1%] of group B had uncorrected visual acuity of 6/18 or better. 98 of 107 [91.3%] of group A and 110 of 119 [92.2%] of group B had best corrected visual acuity of 6/18 or better. There was no significant difference between the two groups for intra-operative and post-operative complications. Minimum and safe stigmatism is present in temporal approach. Both superior and temporal scleral tunnel approaches are safe and effective for MSICS but the temporal approach gives better un-corrected visual acuity and minimum and safe astigmatism