Smoking Pattern in Family Members of Smokers in Slums of Surat City, Western India

Background: The relationship between becoming a smoker and having smoker parents, siblings, and relatives is still uncovered in India. The influences of a smoking role model in a family on smoking habits of individuals are yet to be revealed. This study aimed to understand the relationship of smoking abuse of a person with smoking of their family members. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the slums of 20 urban health centers (UHCs) of Surat city (India). A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was analyzed using Epi-Info software. Findings: Among 281 smoker participants, 168 (59.8%), 55 (19.6%), 95 (33.8%), and 50 (17.8%) had smoking fathers, grandparents, siblings, and other relatives, respectively. While 131 participants (44.6%) had correct information about the law of banned smoking, 249 participants (88.6%) were in favor of this law. The association of smoking abuse in fathers with smoking abuse in siblings came out to be odds ratio (OR) = 3.75 (95% CI: 2.11-6.63) and grandparents to be odds ratio 16.43 (95% CI: 4.98-54.17), respectively. The association between education and following the law of banned smoking was statistically significant OR = 2.98 (95% CI: 1.43-6.00).Conclusion: Substance abuse in parents, siblings, and other relatives is likely to influence the behavior of the person towards it. Persons living in the same vicinity may also greatly influence the behavior of an individual.Keywords: Smoking, Smoker, India.