Availability and use of Naswar

an exploratory study

Basharat, S. Postgraduate Student
Kassim, S. Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Croucher, R.E. Professor of Community Oral Health

Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, 4 Newark Street, London E1 4AT, UK

Address correspondence to Ray Croucher, E-mail: [email protected]

Journal of Public Health 34(1):p 60-64, March 2012. | DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdr044

Background

Naswar is a niche smokeless tobacco product from Pakistan. There is little information about its availability and user characteristics.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey identified outlets selling Naswar in two wards of one London borough and interviewed a purposively recruited sample of 73 Naswar purchasers. Data were analysed using descriptive and chi-square tests (significance, P≤ 0.05).

Results

Of 65 outlets identified 15 sold Naswar. The purchasers’ mean (SD) age was 32 (±10) years and 63% had completed only secondary education. Naswar consumption was significantly associated with tobacco dependency, whilst starting Naswar use at a younger age, having lower education levels, using Naswar more frequently and being of Pakhtunkhwa origin was associated with high monthly consumption (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions

Naswar was widely available. Naswar purchasers of Pakistani origin were employed and young, but with limited education and little knowledge of Naswar's health impacts. Naswar dependency and consumption was linked to behavioural and socio-demographic factors. Further evidence is needed to support policy development.