age, gender and socioeconomic patterns of awareness and usage of e-cigarettes across selected WhO region countries: evidence from the Global adult Tobacco Survey.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the use of e-cigarettes in 14 countries, with a focus on the socio-economic and demographic patterns of awareness and use. The study uses data from the Global adult Tobacco Survey (GaTS) to examine the factors affecting adolescent and adult behavior related to e-cigarette use.

Key Points:

* The study uses GaTS datasets from 14 countries to examine the patterns of e-cigarette awareness and use.
* The key outcome variable is the respondent's current e-cigarette use status, defined as a dichotomous (yes/no) variable.
* Independent variables include socio-economic and demographic characteristics such as gender, age, residence, wealth index, education, and current tobacco use status.
* The study found that awareness and use of e-cigarettes are higher in urban areas, among younger people, those with higher levels of education and wealth, and current tobacco smokers.
* The gender gap in use of e-cigarettes is negligible in most countries, but there are higher prevalence rates among females in some asian countries.
* There is a significant association between noticing advertisements in stores and on the internet and the use of e-cigarettes.
* The predicted prevalence of e-cigarette use is highest in Malaysia (39/1000 population) and lowest in Ethiopia (16/1000 population).

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the patterns of e-cigarette use in different countries, particularly in relation to socio-economic and demographic factors. The findings suggest that targeted interventions may be necessary to reduce the use of e-cigarettes, particularly among young people and current tobacco smokers. The study also emphasizes the need for regulations to control the advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes, particularly on the internet. Overall, the text provides valuable insights into the use of e-cigarettes and highlights the need for continued monitoring and research in this area.

Kundu S, Shaw S, Khan J, Chattopadhyay a, Baptista Ea, Paswan B. age, gender and socioeconomic patterns of awareness and usage of e-cigarettes across selected WhO region countries: evidence from the Global adult Tobacco Survey. BMJ open. 2023;13(1):1. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070419