Status of Implementation and Opinion of Stakeholders about Antismoking Legislation in Educational Institutions of Delhi

Abstract

Background: Smoking is the most important cause of lung cancer and exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is as harmful as active smoking. The state of Delhi has been a front runner in the implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 to overcome this health hazard and started the “Smoke Free Delhi” initiative in 2009. Aims: The aim of this study is to assess compliance, awareness, and support for implementation of smoke-free initiative in educational institutions in Delhi. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in educational institutions of six districts of Delhi. Participants were selected by cluster sampling from the educational institutions in the selected districts. A total of 596 participants were interviewed. Data were collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 17.0) and expressed in percentages. Differences between the proportions were observed by Chi-square test and P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of the total, 125 (21%) reported to be current smokers. A little more than three-fifth (64.8%) of the participants were aware about the COTPA, but the awareness about the organizations implementing the act was very low, being only 7 (5.6%) among smokers, and 23 (4.9%) among nonsmokers. Regarding the awareness of places designated as “Smoke Free Zones,” majority said educational institutions, followed by airport, shopping malls, and buses/trains. Most of the participants were also aware about other steps taken to prohibit smoking at public places, such as ban on sale of tobacco products to minors (80%), advertisements displaying ill effects of smoking (72.1%), and increase in the cost of tobacco products (64.6%). Conclusion: The level of awareness about antismoking legislation was high and majority support ban on smoking. However, the mechanism of implementation of the law was unclear to most.