Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke in Public Places and Barriers to the Implementation of Smoke-Free Regulations in The Gambia: A Population-Based Survey

Bai Cham, Noreen Dadirai Mdege, Linda Bauld, John Britton and Umberto D’Alessandro
Additional contact information
Bai Cham: Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273 Banjul, The Gambia
Noreen Dadirai Mdege: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
Linda Bauld: Usher Institute and SPECTRUM Consortium, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH 8 9AG, UK
John Britton: UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
Umberto D’Alessandro: Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Road, Fajara, P.O. Box 273 Banjul, The Gambia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Introduction: Second-hand smoke is associated with more than 1.2 million deaths per year among non-smokers. Smoking in public places is prohibited in The Gambia but there is no information on the level of exposure to second-hand smoke among adolescents and adults 15–64 years. The aim of this study was to assess the level and predictors of exposure to second-hand smoke in public places and compliance with smoke-free regulations in The Gambia. Methods: A population-based survey was conducted in an established Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). A total of 4547 participants (15–64 years) from households within the Farafenni HDSS were interviewed at their homes but only 3343 were included in our analysis. Factors associated with exposure to second-hand smoke in public places were assessed by three different multivariable regression models. Results: Exposure to tobacco smoke in public places was high (66.1%), and higher in men (79.9%) than women (58.7%). Besides being male, less education, lower household income, urban residence and not aware of smoke-free regulations were strongly associated with exposure to second-hand smoke. Conclusion: Despite existing smoke-free regulations, reported exposure to second-hand smoke remains high in public places in The Gambia. The Ministry of Health should continue to strengthen their advocacy and sensitization programs to ensure smoke-free regulations are fully implemented. Some population subgroups are at a higher risk of exposure and could be targeted by interventions; and settings where these subgroups are exposed should be targeted by enforcement efforts.

Keywords: smoking; second-hand smoke; The Gambia; smoke-free regulations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6263-:d:572093

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