title: Gutka and Tambaku Paan use among South Asian immigrants: a focus group study.
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, government-led 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, 7th floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA, banerjes@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Smita C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Jamie S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ostroff
authors.forename: Sehrish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bari
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Mitali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khera
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gany
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States