System level approaches for mainstreaming tobacco control into existing health programs in India: Perspectives from the field

Bibliographic Details
Title: System level approaches for mainstreaming tobacco control into existing health programs in India: Perspectives from the field
Authors: Rajmohan Panda, Swati Srivastava, Divya Persai, Emily Mendenhall, Monika Arora, Manu Raj Mathur
Source: Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Vol 4, Iss 4, Pp 559-565 (2015)
Publisher Information: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2015.
Publication Year: 2015
Collection: LCC:Medicine
Subject Terms: Health care providers, health systems, integration, program managers, tobacco, Medicine
More Details: Introduction: India is the second largest consumer of tobacco in the world, and varieties of both smoked and smokeless tobacco products are widely available. The national program for tobacco control is run like a vertical stand-alone program. There is a lack of understanding of existing opportunities and barriers within the health programs that influence the integration of tobacco control messages into them. The present formative research identifies such opportunities and barriers. Methods: We conducted a multi-step, mixed methodological study of primary care personnel and policy-makers in two Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The primary purpose of our study was to investigate health worker and policy-maker perceptions on the integration of tobacco control intervention. We systematically collected data in three steps: In Step I, we conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions with primary care health personnel, Step II consists of a quantitative survey among health care providers (n = 1457) to test knowledge, attitudes and practices in tobacco control and Step III we conducted 75 IDIs with program heads and policy-makers to evaluate the relative congruence of their views on integration of the tobacco control program. Results: Majority of the health care providers recognized tobacco use as a major health problem. There was a general consensus for the need of training for effective dissemination of information from health care providers to patients. Almost 92% of the respondents opined that integration of tobacco control with other health programs will be highly effective to downscale the tobacco epidemic. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the need for integration of tobacco control program into existing health programs. Integration of tobacco control strategies into the health care system within primary and secondary care will be more effective and counseling for tobacco cessation should be available for population at large.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2249-4863
Relation: http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2015;volume=4;issue=4;spage=559;epage=565;aulast=Panda; https://doaj.org/toc/2249-4863
DOI: 10.4103/2249-4863.174288
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/1eae7fb8c0474a25a7ca867f0272da21
Accession Number: edsdoj.1eae7fb8c0474a25a7ca867f0272da21
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:22494863
DOI:10.4103/2249-4863.174288
Published in:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Language:English