RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Comparison of tobacco control policies in the eastern Mediterranean countries based on tobacco control scale scores
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP p1553
VO 38
IS Suppl 55
A1 Gholamreza Heydari
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1553.abstract
AB Introduction: According to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) each country is held responsible for adapting and implementing effective tobacco control programs. Comparing the situation in different countries could not only shed light on their conditions compared to each other, but also motivate and stimulate them to implement and improve their tobacco control programs and strategies.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional observational study using questionnaire based on WHO MPOWER guidelines was developed. A scoring system based on the Tobacco control scale methodology was used with total score of 100 in 6 major policies. Information about countries was also collected from the WHO report and the Tobacco Atlas 2009 and the World Bank report of 2008.Results: Among 21 Eastern Mediterranean countries, only 3 countries (14.2%) mainly Iran (61%), Jordan (55%) and Egypt (51%), scored higher than 50. Mean score for countries were 29.7±3.6 points. More than 50% of the countries scored less than 26. Highest scores were achieved by Afghanistan in cigarette pricing, Oman in smoking ban in public places, Iran in budgeting, prohibition of advertisement and health warnings against smoking and Yemen in tobacco cessations programs.Conclusion: Countries in the EMRO region lack the ideal conditions for tobacco control and the related authorities are required to make changes and amendments in their policies for achieving desirable results.