By Alhagie Babou Jallow
Musa Jaiteh, a Gambian Ph.D. Public Health Student at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and a reproductive health nurse at the Ministry of Health, The Gambia.
In an exclusive interview with The Gambia Daily, Jaiteh spoke at length on the issues related to areas of his study, particularly the dangers of ‘Tabaa’ usage by women to enhance their sexual desires.
He explained that ‘Tabaa’ is a term familiar to many Gambians, particularly within the Mandinka tribe, denoting finely ground or pulverized tobacco (snuff) that can be inhaled or placed in the mouth. Elderly individuals, both men and women, are known to place a pinch of “Tabaa” between the gum and cheek, allowing the tobacco to release nicotine slowly upon contact with saliva. This addictive practice is often adopted by individuals seeking an energy boost or stress relief.
Jaiteh recalled that when the Ministry issued a warning against ‘Tabaa’ on social media, he was perplexed, given the common understanding of ‘Tabaa’ as snuff. “This issue became particularly intriguing for me as I was in the final stages of formalizing my MSc research title in a related reproductive health area,” he said.
According to him, knowing that snuff comprises powdered tobacco and caustic soda, its use in the female genital area raised concerns. He went on to explain that when the matter gained attraction, women advocate groups like the Mothers’ Health Foundation stepped in to clarify and distinguish between snuff-tabaa and intravaginal-tabaa.
“At this point, my curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn’t resist delving into this hidden practice. Intravaginal tobacco is a blend of powdered tobacco and other unknown substances that women insert into their vaginas for various perceived benefits. We undertook a nationwide study to determine the prevalence and factors associated with ‘Tabaa’ usage among Gambian women and according to our findings, 23% (68) of Gambian women out of 287 have used ‘Tabaa’ at least once in their lifetime, and 63.2% (43) have become addicted to the product,” he revealed.
The PhD candidate affirmed that one of the reasons for ‘Tabaa’ use by the majority of women was for treating vaginal infections and sexual enhancement. He added that some cited using of the ‘Tabaa’ to boost energy and treat infertility.
“However, when we interviewed health professionals and women advocates, they revealed that many women using ‘Tabaa’ are doing so to satisfy their sexual urges. Women whose husbands live abroad for extended periods without physical intimacy are at a higher risk of using ‘Tabaa’ to fulfil their sexual desires without engaging in extramarital affairs,” he further explained. On advocate shared a story of a lady whose husband lived abroad; “I know a lady whose husband lives abroad, she used to insert candle to satisfy herself, but she was later introduced to ‘tabaa’ and she claims that ‘tabaa’ is more satisfactory than a man, Others believe that women who have given birth multiple times or are in polygamous marriages use ‘tabaa’ for vaginal tightening to meet their husbands’ sexual needs. These women strive to be the best in their husbands’ eyes, using ‘tabaa’ to feel young during intimate moments. Some women want to become the best in the eyes of their husbands than the other wives and they apply ‘tabaa’ to make themselves feel young when having sex with their husbands.”
According to Jaiteh, The Gambia faces resource constraints, particularly in healthcare, and grapples with numerous health challenges, especially among women.
“Socio-cultural factors, alongside deficiencies in healthcare services, contribute to reproductive health issues like sexually transmitted diseases, cancers, and pregnancy complications,” he said.
He argues that this hidden practice could pose maternal dangers, to women, citing a link between the recent cervical cancer cases and ‘Tabaa’ use. The health care professional called on the women to refrain from this harmful practice, emphasizing the need for proactive education on the dangers of ‘Tabaa’.
