Himachal Pradesh sustained efforts for tobacco control have started showing results as the state displays sixth highest decline in tobacco use among the 30 states in the country.

This is revealed by the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) – 2 report (2016-17), which is a global standard for systematically monitoring adult tobacco use (smoking and smoke less) and tracking key tobacco control indicators. The survey was conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Among all the 30 states and two Union Territories HP is eighth highest decline in tobacco use. The findings were reported in comparison with the first round of GATS -1, India was carried out in 2009-2010 covering the then 29 states and two UTs.

The GATS -2 was conducted in 2,447 areas (villages in rural areas and Census Enumeration Blocks in urban areas) with a sample size of 74,037 comprising of 33,772 males and 40,265 females across the country. Sikkim was topped among the states in highest decline followed by Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Chattisgarh and Punduchery.

TISS Research Associate, Alok Ranjan said, “Himachal witnessed a significant decrease in tobacco use, smoking and smokeless use.”

He informed that in comparison with GATS-1 (2009-2010) to GATS-2, there has been a significant decrease in the prevalence of smoking by 4.1 percentage points and smokeless tobacco use by 1.4 percentage points.

In HP the data collection was done during August to September 2016 with a sample size of 2,547 (1,002 males and 1545 females). The prevalence of any tobacco use has decreased significantly by five percentage points from 21.2 per cent in GATS-1 to 16.1 in GATS-2.

According to GATS-2, there were 13.0 per cent smokers in HP, while 1.9 per cent was only smokeless tobacco users while 1.2 per cent was both types of tobacco. Bidi is the most commonly used tobacco product as 12.6 pc of adults smoke bidi, while 2.8 pc Cigarette and 2.6 pc Khaini (chewing tobacco).

Tobacco use by gender comprised of 30.4 per cent males and 1.7 females, while 26.7 per cent males and 1.6 females indulged in smoking and 6.1 pc males and 0.1 females used smokeless tobacco.