PATTERN OF TOBACCO SALE AND CONSUMPTION IN BATHINDA, PUNJAB - A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

The objective of this study is to study the patterns of tobacco sale and to assess the knowledge of tobacco vendors about health hazards from tobacco consumption in Bathinda, Punjab. The present cross sectional study was conducted for a period of 2 months on 374 vendors near the institutional areas of Bathinda city and around. Vendors who gave consent and had temporary or permanent stalls/shops selling tobacco products were included in the study. Around 500 vendors were approached out of which 374 were included in the study. Data collection included a face to face interview and the information gathered was filled in a pretested and pre validated questionnaire.