Date of Award

10-2020

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Health Policy and Management

First Advisor

Dr. Wafa Aftab

Second Advisor

Dr. Romaina Iqbal

Third Advisor

Dr. Narjis Rizvi

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

BACKGROUND: According to the National Statistics of Pakistan (2000), approximately 90% of smokers begin smoking before the age of 21 years. By the age of 11 years, one-third of children, and by 16th-year two-thirds of children have experimented with tobacco smoking. A survey conducted in Islamabad showed that 27% of children aged 10-14 years are smokers and about 1200 new children start smoking every day in Pakistan. There are multiple factors reported in the literature related to the use of tobacco smoke and its product, especially at a young age. OBJECTIVES: What is the current implementation status of the tobacco control policy for minors in Karachi, Pakistan? The second research question in this study was, what are the challenges/barriers to the implementation of smoking tobacco policy in minors of Karachi, Pakistan?
METHODOLOGY: It is a qualitative exploratory study. It helps to explore the opinions and observations of the policymakers, schoolteachers, health experts, policy implementers, tobacco industry representatives, and parents about the use of smoking tobacco and its regulations in Karachi, Pakistan. These factors include peer pressure, role modelling, easy accessibility, unrestricted availability, and low or absence of compliance and implementation of the tobacco and its product usage laws and regulations.
RESULT: By taking different opinions and observations from participants about the use of smoking tobacco and its regulation in Karachi, Pakistan, the study indicated how different agencies initiated different programs to control smoking tobacco in minors based on their geographical localities. The tendency towards the usage and indulgence in the activities of smoking; tobacco use increases in those events and places where these products are commonly used. We suggest that educational programs to raise public awareness of the devastating health effects of tobacco use should be initiated. It is important to ensure strict adherence to the rules made against smoking tobacco, which can be aided by penalties such as fines being levied on the management authorities and owners of public places where the legislation is flouted, without any prejudice. For children and young adolescents, public places such as parks, schools, colleges, and other educational institutes may put them under peer pressure for the use of tobacco products and smoking. In Pakistan, there are different laws and regulations available to control and put restrictions on using tobacco products. It is important to strictly deal with tobacco companies exhibiting laxity following tobacco control laws. Proper enforcement of tobacco control laws can also help avoid the burden of diseases caused second-hand smoke in Pakistan.
CONCLUSION: In the nutshell, after the exploration of the tobacco smoking policy among minors I have concluded that parents play a very important role to stop minors from early age. They are responsible to teach them and make them realize that smoking tobacco is not good for them, not only for them but for everyone. Parents teach their children at an early age and tell them the risk of smoking cigarette or any smoking tobacco product ca use so many diseases, the findings of our study provide the Ministry of Health with concrete proof of inadequate implementation of tobacco control legislation in Pakistan. It is important to ensure strict adherence to the rule. Penalties such as fines should be levied on the management authorities and owners of public places where the legislation is flouted, 6 without any prejudice. Besides, shop owners involved in the selling of tobacco to minors should be strictly dealt with and heavy penalties should be imposed. It is important to strictly deal with tobacco companies exhibiting laxity following tobacco control laws. To ensure the deterrence position played by health and pictorial alerts, heavy fines, and stringent legal sanctions, including prohibition, must be enforced on such businesses. There is a dire need for rigorous enforcement of anti-tobacco legislation since these laws have also been shown to eliminate second-hand smoke exposure among young people in addition to benefits such as the decreased risk of heart and lung disease among the smokers themselves. In a country like Pakistan, where knowledge of the effects of second-hand smoke is not common, this is likely to be especially true. Proper enforcement of tobacco control laws can also help avoid second-hand smoke in Pakistan from the burden of disease.

First Page

1

Last Page

76

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