Background: Tobacco use remains a serious and persistent national problem and one of the fastest growing detrimental health habits in Chhattisgarh. Overall about 1/3rd of cancers in India pertain to tobacco related sites, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that tobacco death in India may exceed 1.5 million annually by 2020.Suggesting a continuing need to monitor and communicate health risks from smokeless tobacco use .An additional challenge to the public health community is the prevention of new smokeless tobacco users and cessation of current users. Objective: 1.To assess the knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of smokeless tobacco among the mine workers. 2. To assess the factors responsible for smokeless tobacco use. Method: A cross sectional community base study was conducted in dolomite mine workers. Total 320 participants between 20 to 60 years of age were face to face interviewed and assessed for Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of smokeless tobacco use.132 (41.2%) participants were found using smokeless tobacco. Data collecting tools in this study was semi structured questionnaire Result: in this study prevalence of smokeless tobacco use among mine workers was (41.2%) consumption was highest in the less educated workers. Education emerges as a relatively strong predictor to change the tobacco habits. Gutkha (59%) is the most common method of smokeless tobacco use, 33.3% of participants initiated smokeless tobacco before 15 years of age. Friends, Peer pressure and Advertisements are emerging as important influencing factors among smokeless tobacco users. Conclusion: High prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and in view of carcinogenesis potential and associated health hazard of smokeless tobacco appeared to be major health problem as addiction, need to intervene.
