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Changes in Tobacco Use Patterns during COVID-19 and Their Correlates among Older Adults in Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Sabuj Kanti Mistry

    (Department of Health Research, ARCED Foundation, 13/1, Pallabi, Mirpur-12, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
    Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
    BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, 68 Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sharani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh)

  • Armm Mehrab Ali

    (Department of Health Research, ARCED Foundation, 13/1, Pallabi, Mirpur-12, Dhaka 1216, Bangladesh
    Global Research and Data Support, Innovations for Poverty Action, 101 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06510, USA)

  • Md. Ashfikur Rahman

    (Development Studies Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh)

  • Uday Narayan Yadav

    (Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
    Center for Research, Policy and Implementation, Biratnagar 56613, Nepal
    Department of Public Health, Torrens University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Bhawna Gupta

    (Department of Public Health, Torrens University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Muhammad Aziz Rahman

    (School of Health, Federation University Australia, Berwick, VIC 3806, Australia
    Australian Institute of Primary Care and Ageing, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
    Equal contributor.)

  • Rumana Huque

    (Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
    Research and Development, ARK Foundation, Gulshan, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
    Equal contributor.)

Abstract

The present study explored the changes in tobacco use patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and their correlates among older adults in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1032 older adults aged ≥60 years in Bangladesh through telephone interviews in October 2020. Participants’ characteristics and COVID-19-related information were gathered using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were asked if they noted any change in their tobacco use patterns (smoking or smokeless tobacco) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (6 months prior to the survey). Nearly half of the participants (45.6%) were current tobacco users, of whom 15.9% reported increased tobacco use during the COVID-19 pandemic and all others had no change in their tobacco use patterns. Tobacco use was significantly increased among the participants from rural areas, who had reduced communications during COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic (OR = 2.76, 95%CI:1.51–5.03). Participants who were aged ≥70 years (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14–0.77), widowed (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.13–1.00), had pre-existing, non-communicable, and/or chronic conditions (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.25–0.78), and felt themselves at the highest risk of COVID-19 (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.15–0.62), had significantly lower odds of increased tobacco use. Policy makers and practitioners need to focus on strengthening awareness and raising initiatives to avoid tobacco use during such a crisis period.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabuj Kanti Mistry & Armm Mehrab Ali & Md. Ashfikur Rahman & Uday Narayan Yadav & Bhawna Gupta & Muhammad Aziz Rahman & Rumana Huque, 2021. "Changes in Tobacco Use Patterns during COVID-19 and Their Correlates among Older Adults in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-11, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1779-:d:498135
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carrie L. Anderson & Heiko Becher & Volker Winkler, 2016. "Tobacco Control Progress in Low and Middle Income Countries in Comparison to High Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Javad J. Fatollahi & Sean Bentley & Neal Doran & Arthur L. Brody, 2021. "Changes in Tobacco Use Patterns among Veterans in San Diego during the Recent Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Salma Azzouzi & Catherine Stratton & Laura Paulina Muñoz-Velasco & Kangxin Wang & Maryam Fourtassi & Bo-Young Hong & Rory Cooper & Joseph K. Balikuddembe & Angela Palomba & Mark Peterson & Uma Pandiya, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Perceived Mental and Physical Health of People Living with Non-Communicable Diseases: An International Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Sabuj Kanti Mistry & ARM Mehrab Ali & Uday Narayan Yadav & Md. Nazmul Huda & Saruna Ghimire & Md. Ashfikur Rahman & Sompa Reza & Rumana Huque & Muhammad Aziz Rahman, 2021. "Perceived Change in Tobacco Use and Its Associated Factors among Older Adults Residing in Rohingya Refugee Camps during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-12, November.
    4. Xiaoyu Wang & Zaifei Ma & Chunan Wang, 2022. "A Longitudinal Study on the Addictive Behaviors of General Population before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-12, May.

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