Patterns of smokeless tobacco use among the elderly in Kwekwe

<p>Risk Matiya</p>

Patterns of smokeless tobacco use among the elderly in Kwekwe

Risk Matiya

Midlands State University, Zimbabwe

: J Addict Behav Ther Rehabil

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to examine the patterns of smokeless tobacco among the elderly in Kwekwe district. The research was carried out on elders that are people aged from 50 years and above with the hope of gaining ideas on the patterns of smokeless tobacco among the elderly in Kwekwe district. The findings of the study were based on the patterns of smokeless tobacco among the elderly in Kwekwe district. The findings of the study were based on the information collected using quantitative research method. Snowball sampling technique was used to get the respondents on the topic. The intended data were collected using the questionnaires. The study revealed that most of the people who were engaged in the practice were influenced by different factors such as level of education, employment status, age, recreation and culture, just to mention a few. The research indicated also that the respondents know very little about the negative effects of smokeless tobacco on their health. The study indicated that quitting smokeless tobacco is as challenging as quitting tobacco smoking. The study recommends that youth empowerment and the provision of employment is an essential need to reduce the increase on the rate of the practice of smokeless tobacco among the users in Kwekwe district.