BACKGROUND: We assessed the impact of a smoking ban in hospitality venues in the Seychelles 9 months after legislation was implemented. METHODS: Survey officers observed compliance with the smoking ban in 38 most popular hospitality venues and administered a structured questionnaire to two customers, two workers and one manager in each venue. RESULTS: Virtually no customers or workers were seen smoking in the indoor premises. Patrons, workers and managers largely supported the ban. The personnel of the hospitality venues reported that most smokers had no difficulty refraining from smoking. However, a third of workers did not systematically request customers to stop smoking and half of them did not report adequate training. Workers reported improved health. No substantial change in the number of customers was noted. CONCLUSION: A ban on public smoking was generally well implemented in hospitality venues but some less than optimal findings suggest the need for adequate training of workers and strengthened enforcement measures. The simple and inexpensive methodology used in this rapid survey may be a useful approach to evaluate the implementation and impact of clean air policy in low and middle-income countries.
BACKGROUND: We assessed the impact of a smoking ban in hospitality venues in the Seychelles 9 months after legislation was implemented. METHODS: Survey officers observed compliance with the smoking ban in 38 most popular hospitality venues and administered a structured questionnaire to two customers, two workers and one manager in each venue. RESULTS: Virtually no customers or workers were seen smoking in the indoor premises. Patrons, workers and managers largely supported the ban. The personnel of the hospitality venues reported that most smokers had no difficulty refraining from smoking. However, a third of workers did not systematically request customers to stop smoking and half of them did not report adequate training. Workers reported improved health. No substantial change in the number of customers was noted. CONCLUSION: A ban on public smoking was generally well implemented in hospitality venues but some less than optimal findings suggest the need for adequate training of workers and strengthened enforcement measures. The simple and inexpensive methodology used in this rapid survey may be a useful approach to evaluate the implementation and impact of clean air policy in low and middle-income countries.
Authors: Lindsay Robertson; Kellen Namusisi Nyamurungi; Shannon Gravely; Jean Christophe Rusatira; Adeniyi Oginni; Steven Ndugwa Kabwama; Achiri Elvis Ndikum; Eduardo Bianco; Salim Yusuf; Mark D Huffman Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2018-07-28 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Arti Singh; Gabriel Okello; Sean Semple; Fiona Dobbie; Tarja I Kinnunen; Kwabena F Lartey; Divine D Logo; Linda Bauld; Sampson T Ankrah; Ann McNeill; Ellis Owusu-Dabo Journal: Tob Induc Dis Date: 2020-05-20 Impact factor: 2.600