Community-based interventional study for tobacco cessation in urban slums of Ahmedabad City: A cluster-randomized trial

Background: Tobacco is one of the most important preventable causes of death and a leading public health problem all over the world. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of community-based intervention for tobacco cessation in urban slums of Ahmedabad city. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 slums (10 slums each) in the intervention and control group were randomly selected through the process of randomization. A total of 200 participants each in the intervention and control group were studied through a cluster-randomized trial. Results: The outcome of the community-based tobacco intervention measured after 6 months depicted that the odds ratio (OR) of the prevalence of tobacco abstinence, quit rate, and reduction of more than 50% of tobacco use was significantly higher (30.37 times, 2.84 times, and 2.19 times respectively more) in the intervention as compared to the control group. However, after 1 year of the first and immediately after the second intervention, the OR of tobacco point prevalence abstinence, quit rate, and reduction of more than 50% was more pronounced (5.11 times, 3.52 times, and 4.31 times, respectively, more) in the intervention group than the control group. Post intervention, it was also observed that there was a significant increase in the average quit attempt. Conclusion: The community-based intervention was very effective in reducing the consumption of tobacco in urban slums in any form. As per the study findings, there is a wide possibility for the integration of tobacco cessation activity into the health program.

Automated summary

The study on community-based intervention for tobacco cessation in urban slums showed significantly higher rates of tobacco abstinence, quit rate, and reduction of tobacco use in the intervention group compared to the control group. The findings suggest the potential integration of tobacco cessation activities into health programs, as the intervention was highly effective in reducing tobacco consumption.