title: Availability and use of Naswar: an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Naswar is a niche smokeless tobacco product from Pakistan. There is little information about its availability and user characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional survey identified outlets selling Naswar in two wards of one London borough and interviewed a purposively recruited sample of 73 Naswar purchasers. Data were analysed using descriptive and chi-square tests (significance, P ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 65 outlets identified 15 sold Naswar. The purchasers' mean (SD) age was 32 (± 10) years and 63% had completed only secondary education. Naswar consumption was significantly associated with tobacco dependency, whilst starting Naswar use at a younger age, having lower education levels, using Naswar more frequently and being of Pakhtunkhwa origin was associated with high monthly consumption (P ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Naswar was widely available. Naswar purchasers of Pakistani origin were employed and young, but with limited education and little knowledge of Naswar's health impacts. Naswar dependency and consumption was linked to behavioural and socio-demographic factors. Further evidence is needed to support policy development.
authors.affiliation: Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, 4 Newark Street, London E1 4AT,  UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basharat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Croucher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D055815:Young Adult