Year: 2026 | Month: July | Volume: 16 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 94-103
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260710
Nicotine Dependence and Its Correlates Among Tobacco Users from Urban Prayagraj: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study
Bilkish Nabilal Patavegar1, Aparnesh Pandey2, Sanjeev Kumar3
1Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, UIMS, Prayagraj, UP.
2Statistician cum Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, UIMS, Prayagraj, UP.
3Professor and Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, UIMS, Prayagraj, UP.
Corresponding Author: Bilkish Nabilal Patavegar
ABSTRACT
Background: Tobacco use remains a major public health challenge and is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Nicotine dependence is a key factor that hinders successful tobacco cessation. Understanding the extent of nicotine dependence and its associated factors is essential for planning effective tobacco-control interventions.
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of nicotine dependence among tobacco users and determine its association with selected sociodemographic characteristics in an urban population of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among current tobacco users identified from a parent survey carried out in the Urban Health and Training Centre (UHTC) field practice area, Bamrauli, Prayagraj. Of the 316 individuals surveyed, 132 current tobacco users were included in the study. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) for smokers and the FTND–Smokeless Tobacco (FTND-SLT) questionnaire for smokeless tobacco users. Dependence scores were categorized as low (<4), moderate (4–6), and high (>6). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney U test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Among the 132 tobacco users, 37 were exclusive smokers, 42 were exclusive smokeless tobacco users, and 53 were dual users. Moderate-to-high nicotine dependence was observed among 65% of smokers and 73% of smokeless tobacco users. Socioeconomic status showed a significant association with FTND scores among smokers (p=0.04), whereas age, gender, literacy status, and occupation were not significantly associated with nicotine dependence.
Conclusion: A high prevalence of nicotine dependence was observed among both smokers and smokeless tobacco users, particularly among individuals from lower socioeconomic groups. Strengthening tobacco cessation services, behavioural counselling, and community-based tobacco-control interventions is essential to reduce the burden of nicotine addiction.
Key words: Nicotine Dependence, Tobacco Use, Smokeless Tobacco, Fagerström Test, Urban Population.