Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 531-539

Gutka and tambaku paan use among south Asian immigrants: A focus group study (Article)

Banerjee S.C.* , Ostroff J.S. , Bari S. , D'Agostino T.A. , Khera M. , Acharya S. , Gany F.
  • a Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, United States
  • c Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, United States
  • e South Asian Council for Social Services, New York, NY, United States
  • f South Asian Council for Social Services, New York, NY, United States
  • g Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Smokeless tobacco use is prevalent among South Asian immigrants, particularly in the forms of gutka and tambaku paan. In this paper, we examined (a) gutka and tambaku paan initiation and use patterns among South Asian immigrants, and (b) perceptions related to quitting and tobacco control. Six focus groups were conducted with 39 South Asian adult gutka/tambaku paan users, in three different South Asian languages (Gujarati, Bengali, and Urdu). Participants reported easy availability of gutka and tambaku paan in neighborhood stores, and noted several factors that promoted initiation (including social networks, perceived benefits, and curiosity). Due to awareness of low social acceptance of gutka and tambaku paan in the US, some participants discussed changing patterns of use following immigration. Finally, participants proposed roles of various agencies (e.g., doctors'/dentists' role, governmentled initiatives) for tobacco control in South Asian immigrant communities. This research provides implications for improving tobacco control efforts in the United States, particularly for South Asian immigrants.

Author Keywords

Paan Gutka Smokeless tobacco South Asian immigrants

Index Keywords

information processing longitudinal study sex ratio human risk assessment Longitudinal Studies middle aged statistics and numerical data comparative study Aged United States Humans migrant Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Asian American cultural factor Incidence adult Sex Distribution age distribution Cultural Characteristics adverse effects Focus Groups Tobacco, Smokeless smokeless tobacco
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904736851&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9826-4&partnerID=40&md5=9a75d7ea4aa463159ec4fa97a195d01a
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9826-4
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English