Prevalence and determinants of dual and poly-tobacco use among males in 19 low-and middle-income countries: Implications for a comprehensive tobacco control regulation

Despite their implications for tobacco control, data on concurrent dual (using two tobacco products) and poly tobacco use (using more than two products) are relatively scarce globally. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dual and poly-tobacco use among men in 19 low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) and assess potential associations with individual and country level factors. Data from 19 LMICs were obtained from the most recent wave of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), collected between 2015 and 2016 comprising 235,975 men aged 15-49 years. The prevalence of current single, dual and poly-tobacco use were estimated using available sample weights. Mixed-effect multilevel models were used to estimate associations of individual and country level factors with tobacco use. Results showed that the prevalence of dual or poly-tobacco use among men was highest in Timor Leste (27.1%), Nepal (18.3%), Lesotho (13.2%) and India (9.3%). Factors associated with dual and poly-tobacco use were older age, low academic achievement, low income status, being divorced, living in urban areas and high frequency of media use. Among country-level characteristics, national wealth was not associated with dual and poly-tobacco use. Implementation of MPOWER measures was inversely associated with single tobacco use; this was not the case for dual and poly-tobacco use. Findings suggest that dual and poly tobacco use are common among men especially in South-East Asian countries. This study highlights the need for MPOWER measures to be expanded and strengthened to address all tobacco products and explicitly consider dual and poly use.

Automated summary

The study found that the prevalence of dual and poly-tobacco use among men was highest in Timor Leste (27.1%), Nepal (18.3%), Lesotho (13.2%), and India (9.3%). Factors associated with dual and poly-tobacco use included older age, low academic achievement, low income status, being divorced, living in urban areas, and high frequency of media use.