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Research Paper | Public Health | Maldives | Volume 13 Issue 7, July 2024 | Rating: 5.3 / 10
Nicotine Dependence and its Variation among Tobacco Users Who Visited the Tobacco Cessation Clinic in an Urban Primary Healthcare Center in Male' Maldives
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to identify nicotine dependence and its variation among tobacco users who attended tobacco cessation clinic at one of the Urban Primary Healthcare Center (Dhamanaveshi) in Male', Maldives, spanning from 2017 through 2023. Methods: A retrospective, quantitative, descriptive survey was conducted using secondary data collected through tobacco cessation assessment forms at the tobacco cessation clinic run in one of the Urban Primary Healthcare Center (Dhamanaveshi) in Male', Maldives. Census sampling was employed accordingly all the available tobacco cessation forms were considered resulting in a total sample size of 544. Data transfer sheet was developed after reviewing the tobacco cessation assessment forms and the required data were transferred to the data transfer sheet by the primary researcher. Both descriptive & inferential statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21.0. Results: Out of 544 tobacco users 494 (90.8%) were male and 50 (9.2%) were female. The majority were married and employed, and most did not take any medication or have allergies. The average age of tobacco users was 39.6 years, with the majority falling within the 36 - 64 age range. A significant number of tobacco users started using tobacco before the age of 18, and most had been using it for at least 10 years. Many of them were traditional smokers who exclusively used Camel brand cigarettes. The majority smoked more than 10 cigarettes daily or used tobacco more than 10 times a day. Less than half of the tobacco users had moderate nicotine dependence, majority used tobacco within half an hour of wake up, most of them did not use more tobacco during first hours of the day and majority used tobacco during their illness. Nicotine dependency varies based on most of the demographic characters and with most of the practices of tobacco use. Conclusion: Majority of the of the tobacco users had moderate nicotine dependence. Nicotine dependence varies significantly with regards to most of the demographic factors and also varies based on practices of tobacco use by tobacco users.
Keywords: nicotine dependence, difference in nicotine dependence, nicotine, tobacco use, practice of tobacco use
Edition: Volume 13 Issue 7, July 2024,
Pages: 1536 - 1543