Beliefs about the ill effects of smoked tobacco use

80 Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions

9. K o ledge, Attitudes a d Per eptio s

Despite conclusive evidence on the dangers of tobacco use, relatively few tobacco users understand that smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and causes many diseases. In addition, smoking affects the health of both smokers and non-smokers. This chapter presents the perceptions and views of the overall population aged 15 years and above about the hazards of smoking and its various dimensions, such as beliefs about serious illnesses caused by smoking and using smokeless tobacco, and the adverse health effects caused by exposure to second-hand smoke SHS. Key findings o Over four in five people believe that smoking causes serious illness 86.0 and lung cancer 84.7. o Less than half of the people believe that smoking causes premature birth 49.5 and stroke 45.5. o Less than two in five people believe that smoking causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, 36.0. o Less than three in ten people believe that smoking causes bladder cancer 27.7, bone loss 20.4 and stomach cancer 18.5. o As many as 73.7 of adults believe that exposure to oth er people’s s oke causes serious ill esses in non-smokers. o Less than one fourth of people 23.9 believe that smokeless tobacco use causes serious illnesses.

9.1. Beliefs about the ill effects of tobacco use

9.1.1. Beliefs about the ill effects of smoked tobacco use

The GATS collected information on general beliefs regarding the health effects of tobacco smoking as well as on causing various diseases among the population aged 15 years and above. Table 9.1 presents the percentage of adults who believe that smoking causes serious illness, stroke, heart attack or lung cancer by current smoking status and selected demographic characteristics. Table 9.1A presents the percentage of adults who believe that smoking causes other specific diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, premature birth or bone loss. Table 9.1 shows that a majority of the overall population believes that smoking causes serious illness, heart attack and lung cancer 86.0, 81.5 and 84.7, respectively. However, fewer people feel that smoking can cause stroke 45.5. These fIgures are similar when considered by various demographic characteristics. There is no difference in perceptions between men and women. However, the 65+ years age group, and people with less than primary school level of education have lesser awareness of the ill effects of smoking as compared to others. By occupation, students are the most aware that smoking causes serious illness 97.0, heart attack 95.5 and lung cancer 95.7, and 61.5 of them are also aware that smoking causes stroke. Among current smokers, the overall belief that smoking causes serious illness, stroke and heart attack 81.3, 78.3 and 81.0, respectively shows the same trend and similar percentages as for the overall population. The least awareness is about stroke 40.0. Men are more aware than women of the harmful effects of smoking on all these illnesses, and urban people are more aware than rural dwellers. Among other demographic groups, the 65+ year age group shows the least awareness, as do smokers with less than primary levels of education and the unemployed. 81 Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Non-smokers have a greater belief than smokers about the ill effects of smoking. Percentagesof those who believed that smoking causes serious illness, heart attack and lung cancer are 88.5, 83.1 and 86.7, respectively. Percentages for the younger age group 15 –24 years, college or university graduates and those employed are highest among their respective demographic groups. Table 9.1A gives the details of those who believe than smoking causes COPD, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, premature birth or bone loss, separately for the overall population, smokers and non-smokers. The awareness levels regarding these diseases is much less than the ones described earlier, with overall percentage figures being COPD – 36.0, bladder cancer – 27.7, stomach cancer – 18.5, premature birth – 49.5 and bone loss – 20.4. Awareness levels by demographic characteristics follow a similar pattern as that for the earlier diseases. Men are more aware of the ill effects of smoking than women. The 15 –24 years age group, urban populace, college or university graduates and the employed are the most aware among their respective demographic categories. The pattern and percentages are similar for smokers and for non-smokers.

9.1.2. Beliefs about the ill effects of smokeless tobacco use