CATCH approach for smokeless tobacco cessation in the South-East Asia region

Tobacco cessation remains a weak point in tobacco control in the South-East Asia Region (‎SEAR)‎. Though there is clear scientific evidence that tobacco cessation interventions are highly cost-effective public health measures, countries of the Region have failed to optimally prioritize this issue so far. This assumes greater importance in case of smokeless tobacco (‎SLT)‎ cessation initiatives that ought to take into account a complex set of factors in the Region such as culture, religion, gender, age, educational background, socioeconomic status and the special cessation needs of SLT users. This document aims to understand the needs and challenges of SLT cessation in five identified countries of the SEAR–Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal–that have high prevalence of SLT consumption among adults and youth. The document strives to identify opportunities for taking this public health agenda forward in these five countries and to lay down specific priorities for action and intervention.