Addressing Tobacco Use Among Women: A Call for Focused Interventions

The PMNCH’s Accountability Breakfast serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to implement effective health policies that safeguard the future of women, children, and adolescents. Through continued dialogue, research, and advocacy, organizations like Nada India can help drive meaningful change, ensuring that tobacco use among women receives the attention it demands within the broader public health agenda.

The PMNCH’s 12th Annual Accountability Breakfast, held alongside the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2024, emphasized the urgency of accelerating action to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child mortality. As part of the ongoing efforts to reset priorities for women's, children's, and adolescents' health, the event brought renewed attention to various health risks, including tobacco use, which significantly impacts women’s reproductive health and overall well-being. Nada India Foundation, a committed partner in this mission, participated online to contribute to the broader dialogue on improving health outcomes for women.

The Impact of Tobacco Use on Women's Health

Tobacco use remains a significant public health challenge in India, where nearly 267 million adults consume tobacco in various forms, leading to approximately 1.35 million deaths annually. While smoking is widely recognized as harmful, smokeless tobacco (SLT) use, prevalent in India, poses equally severe risks, especially for women. SLT products, including gutkha, paan with tobacco, and zarda, are commonly used by women, often due to cultural acceptability compared to smoked tobacco products like cigarettes and bidis.

Data from the National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) and the Global Adult Tobacco Survey-2 (GATS-2) highlight the increasing trend of tobacco use among women in India. Alarmingly, 4% to 7.4% of pregnant women and about 5% of lactating women use SLT. This growing trend of tobacco use among women not only jeopardizes their health but also poses significant risks to their unborn children.

Health Risks of Smokeless Tobacco Use During Pregnancy

Evidence suggests that smokeless tobacco consumption during pregnancy adversely affects gestational age and birth outcomes. Babies born to women who use SLT are more likely to have low birth weights and face developmental issues due to the neuro-teratogenic effects of tobacco. Moreover, women exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy face a doubled risk of stillbirth, indicating the severe implications of tobacco exposure, even when the women themselves do not use tobacco.

The health impact extends beyond pregnancy; maternal tobacco use is associated with a greater risk to children’s health compared to paternal use. These risks necessitate targeted interventions that address both direct and indirect exposure to tobacco during pregnancy and lactation periods.

Addressing the Tobacco Challenge in Women’s Health Policies

The disparities in smokeless tobacco use estimates among pregnant women between GATS-2 and NFHS-4 surveys underscore the need for more reliable data to inform health policies. With SLT use particularly high among women in India and other Asian countries, focused public health strategies are essential. This includes targeted tobacco control efforts, enhanced maternal and child health policies, and improved data quality to address this pervasive issue.

During a recent visit to the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) in Noida, the Nada India team discussed these pressing concerns with Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh, a senior scientist. The discussions underscored the critical need for comprehensive strategies that integrate reproductive and maternal health initiatives with tobacco control measures.

Moving Forward

As stakeholders and partners in health, it is crucial to recognize the profound impact of tobacco use on women’s health, particularly during pregnancy and lactation. Efforts to reduce tobacco use must be intensified, with a focus on culturally sensitive interventions and policies that protect women and their children from the harmful effects of tobacco. The PMNCH’s Accountability Breakfast serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to implement effective health policies that safeguard the future of women, children, and adolescents.

Through continued dialogue, research, and advocacy, organizations like Nada India can help drive meaningful change, ensuring that tobacco use among women receives the attention it demands within the broader public health agenda.