Smokeless tobacco policy in Bangladesh: A stakeholder study of compatibility with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
- 20 January 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Drug and Alcohol Review
- Vol. 40 (5), 856-863
- https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13243
Abstract
Introduction Smokeless tobacco (ST) is the predominant form of tobacco used in Bangladesh and is associated with adverse health outcomes. Bangladesh ratified the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2004. There are concerns that FCTC legislation and implementation of ST control policy is insufficient in Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to investigate the achievements and challenges of ST policy in Bangladesh and its alignment with the FCTC. Methods We conducted semi‐structured key informant interviews with 20 stakeholders from government and non‐government offices and international funding agencies, including tobacco control advocates, policy makers and non‐governmental organisation workers. We used NVivo software to create key themes and the framework method for thematic analysis. Results Our findings revealed a lack of national policy in terms of disclosure of harmful contents, illicit trade and standardised packaging of ST. Legislation remains ineffective in relation to graphical health warnings and tax measures. Challenges to ST control identified included inadequate law enforcement; paucity of research, surveillance, and evidence generation; and supply chain control. We identified lack of congruence of ST policies with FCTC due to slow progress in implementation of FCTC measures, lack of a country‐specific policy and industry interference. To comply with FCTC, participants recommended strong leadership and political commitment, co‐ordination between public and private sectors and proper use of tobacco control resources. Discussion and Conclusions Bangladesh has adopted several important FCTC measures, but further strengthening of ST policy is needed to enable full implementation of FCTC.This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Health knowledge and smokeless tobacco quit attempts and intentions among married women in rural Bangladesh: Cross‐sectional surveyDrug and Alcohol Review, 2015
- Global burden of disease due to smokeless tobacco consumption in adults: analysis of data from 113 countriesBMC Medicine, 2015
- Smokeless Tobacco Supply Chain in South Asia: A Comparative Analysis Using the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco ControlNicotine & Tobacco Research, 2015
- Smokeless Tobacco Control Policies in South Asia: A Gap Analysis and RecommendationsNicotine & Tobacco Research, 2014
- Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative data in multi-disciplinary health researchBMC Medical Research Methodology, 2013
- Why Do Bangladeshi People Use Smokeless Tobacco Products?Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 2012
- The complexity of ‘harm reduction’ with smokeless tobacco as an approach to tobacco control in low-income and middle-income countriesTobacco Control, 2012
- Non‐cigarette tobacco use among women and adverse pregnancy outcomesActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 2010
- Risk of hypertension amongst Swedish male snuff users: a prospective studyJournal of Internal Medicine, 2008
- Smokeless tobacco use and increased cardiovascular mortality among Swedish construction workers.American Journal of Public Health, 1994