Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP) and Bangladesh Tobacco Control Research Network (BTCRN) in collaboration with the Institute for Global Tobacco Control based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH), Baltimore, USA organized a daylong Research Findings Dissemination Conference on Tobacco Control on December 10, 2018 at a local hotel in Dhaka.
The findings of the nine research projects were presented in the conference through three scientific sessions. Among the nine research studies, four were undertaken by student researchers of different public and private universities while other five were conducted by five experienced researchers in different academic institutions and organizations. Of the nine research projects - the important ones include: 1) Impactful Advocacy Strategies for Tobacco Consumption Prevention in the Char Regions of Northern Bangladesh; 2) Compliance Level of Tobacco Control Law in Public Transportation; 3) Relationship between Income Elasticity and Tobacco Product Use in Bangladesh; 4) Compliance with Tobacco Control Law in Uttara Model Town: A Way Forward to a Smoke-free City; 5) Graphic Health Warnings on Cigarette Packs: Exploration on its Effectiveness in Deterring the Youth of Bangladesh and 6) Adoption of Tobacco Retail License in Bangladesh: Exploring Possible Outcomes and Implementation Challenges.
Some important findings from the mentioned researches are: 1) Designing advocacy strategies to inspire mindfulness behavioral change, such as record keeping of daily tobacco consumption by tobacco users, are relatively more successful in motivating individuals to reduce tobacco consumption than simply visual advocacies; 2) The lack of monitoring in implementing the Tobacco Control Law by the authority and unawareness of passengers about the law were key barriers towards practice of anti- Tobacco Control Law in public transportations; 3) Relationship between income elasticity and tobacco consumption is inelastic.
As a result, it can be impliedly stated that Tobacco use increases the disproportionate burden among the people of middle and low socioeconomic status; 4) Due to the lack of public awareness and proper implementation of the Tobacco Control Law, compliance was found not to be satisfactory. Involvement of area-wise stakeholders could be an important measure to make a smoke-free Uttara Model Town in specific and other cities of Bangladesh in general;
5) The implementation of graphic health warnings has effect in increasing thoughts about health hazards and quitting of smoking. Further efforts are needed to develop more effective graphic health warnings including the regulation of selling loose cigarettes which could deter youth from smoking and
6) Regulating the tobacco retail outlets is required to strengthen tobacco control measures in the country. Incorporating a tobacco retail licensing within the framework of a comprehensive tobacco control policy is necessary to restrict the widespread availability of tobacco products.
In the opening session of the conference, national Professor Dr. Brig. (Rtd.) Abdul Malik, President, National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, and Advisor, Bangladesh Tobacco Control Research Network chaired the inaugural program while Mr. Md. Ashadul Islam, Secretary, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was present as the Chief Guest.
In addition, Prof. Dr. A H M Enayet Hussain, Additional Director General, Directorate General of Health Services; Dr. Edwin C Salvador, Deputy WHO Representative to Bangladesh, and Dr. Joanna Cohen, Director, Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Maryland, USA attended in the opening session of the conference as Guests of Honor. Mr. Mohammad Shahjahan, Director and CEO, BCCP initiated the session with his opening remarks.
In the closing session, Mr. Mohammad Shahjahan, Director and CEO, BCCP was present as the chairperson. In addition, Mr. Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Former Additional Secretary, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Dr. Nur Mohammad, Line Director, Non-Communicable Diseases Control (NCDC), Directorate General of Health Services, Mr. Md. Hafizur Rahman Chowdhury, Deputy Secretary (World Health 2), Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Dr. AFM Mafizul Islam, Advisor, Board of Trustee, Southeast University; Dr. Joanna Cohen, Director, Institute for Global Tobacco Control; Dr. Nawzia Yasmin, President, Bangladesh Tobacco Control Research Network attended as Guests of Honor in the closing session. More than 250 participants from the Government and Non- Government organization, University and Development Partner agencies attended the conference.