Background

Tobacco smoking is a global epidemic among adults and increases the risk of different diseases, and premature deaths.

Objectives

This study attempts to investigate and estimate the prevalence and risk factors of tobacco smoking among adults in India.

Material and methods

This study utilized cross-sectional data from the nationally representative 2017 Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Chi-square analysis was used to show the association between tobacco smoking and risk factors. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors of tobacco smoking based on p-values and odds ratio along with confidence interval.

Results

The overall prevalence of tobacco smoking was 12.84% (Male: 25.01%, Female: 2.63%). The highest prevalence of tobacco smoking was in Meghalaya (35.04%) and the lowest in Goa (3.07%). Genderwise, the highest prevalence of tobacco smoking was 57.27% in Meghalaya for males and 7.27% in Manipur for females. This study found that 16 out of 19 covariates were significantly (p < 0.001) associated with tobacco smoking. Age, region, gender, education, religion, marital status, wealth index, number of living persons, and presence of smoking persons were found to be highly significant (p < 0.001) risk factors. Adults from 46–60 years, north east region, no education, daily wage/casual labourers and self-employed, non-Hindu, married. Poorest, presence of smoking persons, and no knowledge about smoking cause strokes had significantly higher risk of tobacco smoking.

Conclusions

Tobacco smoking remains one of the major causes of diseases, deaths and economic losses. This recent realistic evidence will help policy makers to make policy for reducing tobacco smoking in India, as well as different states.