Showbiz influence use of tobacco in India: Survey

A recent findings from a National Survey in India reveals that exposure to mass media may impact the use of tobacco in India which is a major source of illness and death. The study revealed that daily television and radio use is associated with higher likelihood of tobacco consumption amongst men and women, while daily newspaper use is related to lower likelihood of tobacco consumption.

The study focuses on understanding the extent to which mass media use is related to tobacco use in India, given that media use may expose the audience to both pro and anti-tobacco content. The data in this study clearly demonstrate that use of media is independently associated with tobacco use. More importantly, the differential associations of media types on tobacco use suggest that the content in the media types vary and that this content likely accounts for the differences in the associations. Different media genres are likely to play different roles in tobacco use. Advertising and entertainment media are more likely to be receptive to pro-tobacco content given the heavy promotion of tobacco use in advertising and incidence of smoking in movies.

Dr Prakash C Gupta, Director Healis-Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, said, "India is the second largest tobacco consumer in the world and is expected to claim 1.5 million lives annually by 2020. Studies such as these will help in creating awareness of the tobacco problem and help in finding solutions to curb tobacco consumption in India."

In conclusion, the research proved that mass media if used in the right way, can be successful in discouraging all forms of tobacco use. Exposure to newspaper coverage on tobacco issues has shown to be related to reduced smoking rates and higher levels of disapproval of smoking behaviors. Anti-tobacco mass media campaigns have also proved to be effective at reducing smoking rates and increasing the perceived harm from smoking. These campaigns are much stronger when media communications are combined with other strategies of tobacco control.