TY - JOUR
T1 - Programme and policy perspectives towards a tobacco-free generation in India
T2 - findings from a qualitative study
AU - Bassi, Shalini
AU - Arora, Monika
AU - Thapliyal, Nishibha
AU - Kulkarni, Muralidhar M.
AU - Bhagawath, Rohith
AU - Bogdanovica, Ilze
AU - Kamath, Veena G.
AU - Britton, John
AU - Bains, Manpreet
N1 - Funding Information:
This research work is funded by the Medical Research Council of the UK under the Global Alliance for Chronic Lung diseases programme (MR/P008933/1) and was carried out as part of a collaborative project of the University of Nottingham, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, HRIDAY and the University of Bath.
Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2023/7/7
Y1 - 2023/7/7
N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study explored multistakeholder perspectives on existing adolescent-specific tobacco control policies and programmes, to advance India's transition towards a tobacco-free generation. DESIGN: Qualitative semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Interviews were conducted with officials involved in tobacco control at the national (India), state (Karnataka), district (Udupi) and village level. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-eight individuals representing national (n=9), state (n=9), district (n=14) and village (n=6) levels, participated. RESULTS: The study findings highlighted the need to strengthen and amend the existing Tobacco Control Law (2003) provisions, particularly in the vicinity of schools (Sections 6a and 6b). Increasing the minimum legal age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 years, developing an 'application' for 'compliance and monitoring indicators' in Tobacco-Free Educational Institution guidelines were proposed. Policies to address smokeless tobacco use, stricter enforcement including regular monitoring of existing programmes, and robust evaluation of policies was underscored. Engaging adolescents to co-create interventions was advocated, along with integrating national tobacco control programmes into existing school and adolescent health programmes, using both an intersectoral and whole-societal approach to prevent tobacco use, were recommended. Finally, stakeholders mentioned that when drafting and implementing a comprehensive national tobacco control policy, there is a need to adopt a vision striving toward a tobacco-free generation. CONCLUSION: Strengthening and developing tobacco control programmes and policies are warranted which are monitored and evaluated rigorously, and where adolescents should be involved, accordingly.
AB - OBJECTIVE: This study explored multistakeholder perspectives on existing adolescent-specific tobacco control policies and programmes, to advance India's transition towards a tobacco-free generation. DESIGN: Qualitative semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Interviews were conducted with officials involved in tobacco control at the national (India), state (Karnataka), district (Udupi) and village level. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-eight individuals representing national (n=9), state (n=9), district (n=14) and village (n=6) levels, participated. RESULTS: The study findings highlighted the need to strengthen and amend the existing Tobacco Control Law (2003) provisions, particularly in the vicinity of schools (Sections 6a and 6b). Increasing the minimum legal age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 years, developing an 'application' for 'compliance and monitoring indicators' in Tobacco-Free Educational Institution guidelines were proposed. Policies to address smokeless tobacco use, stricter enforcement including regular monitoring of existing programmes, and robust evaluation of policies was underscored. Engaging adolescents to co-create interventions was advocated, along with integrating national tobacco control programmes into existing school and adolescent health programmes, using both an intersectoral and whole-societal approach to prevent tobacco use, were recommended. Finally, stakeholders mentioned that when drafting and implementing a comprehensive national tobacco control policy, there is a need to adopt a vision striving toward a tobacco-free generation. CONCLUSION: Strengthening and developing tobacco control programmes and policies are warranted which are monitored and evaluated rigorously, and where adolescents should be involved, accordingly.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85164267656
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85164267656#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067779
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067779
M3 - Article
C2 - 37419637
AN - SCOPUS:85164267656
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 13
SP - e067779
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 7
M1 - e067779
ER -
