Skip to main content

Paan and gutka common forms of smokeless tobacco in Pakistan


By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

People of the South Asian origin are responsible for more than three quarters of all smokeless tobacco, chewing and sniffing tobacco, gutka, naswar, betel quid or paan, and tobacco gum, consumption worldwide.

The researchers, including Dr Javaid A Khan, Dr Mohammad Irfan and Dr Maryam Hassan from the Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi, have recently designed an intervention to support South Asians in quitting smokeless tobacco and then evaluated its feasibility in Pakistan and the UK. 

The intervention activities included raising awareness of the harms of smokeless tobacco use and benefits of quitting, boosting users’ motivation and self-efficacy, and developing strategies to manage their triggers, withdrawal symptoms, and relapse should that occur. 

The users were receptive to health messages but most reported smokeless tobacco reduction rather than complete cessation. 

The researchers found that betel quid or paan and gutka were the common forms of smokeless tobacco used in Pakistan. They also noticed that Pakistani people were more smokeless tobacco dependent than those in the UK. 

“We developed a theory-based intervention for this study, which now needs to be evaluated in an effectiveness trial,” Dr Javaid Khan, Professor of Medicine, Aga Khan University and one of the authors, remarked. 

Other researchers included Kamran Siddiqi, Omara Dogar, Cath Jackson and Nancy O’Neill from University of York; Rukhsana Rashid from Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Ian Kellar from University of Leeds; Furqan Ahmed from Cameos Consultants; and Heather Thomson from Leeds City Council.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KDSP: Empowering Individuals with Down Syndrome in Karachi

The Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP), a beacon of hope and support, is making significant strides in empowering individuals with Down syndrome in the city. Founded in March 2014 by a group of passionate parents and individuals, KDSP addresses the critical need for comprehensive resources and platforms for those with Down syndrome in Karachi. Bridging the Gap: A Mission of Advocacy and Inclusion KDSP operates as a non-profit organization with a clear mission: to advocate for the value, acceptance, and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome. Recognizing the limited support and resources available locally, KDSP was established to provide a nurturing environment where individuals with Down syndrome can lead independent and fulfilling lives. A Lifelong Journey of Support Understanding the unique needs of individuals with Down syndrome and their families, KDSP offers unwavering support from the moment a family receives a diagnosis.  They embark on a journey with each family, pro...
Post a Comment
Read more

China’s maize-soybean technology brings bumper harvest in Punjab

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) The harvest of maize-soybean strip inter-cropping demonstration in Bahawalpur, Punjab, was completed on July 6. The yields of soybean and maize reached 1,304 kg/ha and 8,596 kg/ha respectively, which exhibited satisfactory results. This was indeed encouraging news for local farmers who desired growing soybean without curbing the cultivation of maize, the Gwadar Pro, a Chinese website, reported July 7.  Maize harvest in this inter-cropping field outdistanced the country’s average maize yield which was only around 5,000 kg per hectare. Meanwhile, the farmers received considerable soybeans as an additional return.  As the selling price of soybean was two to three times that of maize, when comparing the two crops as a whole, the overall economic benefit had been significantly improved.  “If you calculate the total benefits, maize-soybean inter-cropping will be the best system in terms of i...
Post a Comment
Read more

China’s top advisory body meets

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) The third annual session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened on May 21, after being delayed for more than two months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much is expected of this year's session of China's top political advisers as the country's goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects is expected to be realized by the end of this year, which is also the final year of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).  The CPPCC National Committee gathers the country's smartest minds from different walks of life.  Their ideas have contributed a great deal to what this country has achieved in its endeavors in poverty alleviation, in making progress in all fields for the realization of the goal of building China into a moderately prosperous country in all aspects. And so have their inputs into the fight against the novel co...
Post a Comment
Read more