Public opinion on smoke-free policies among Egyptians.
Author: Radwan, G.N., Emam, A.H., Maher, K.M., Mehrez, M., El-Sayed, N. and El-Nahas, G.M.
Source:
The International journal of tuberculosis and lung disease, 16(10), pp.1412-1417.
SETTING: A smoke-free law was passed in Egypt in 2007. In 2010 a bylaw was issued, leading to a drive by the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) to launch a smoke-free initiative in Alexandria, the second largest city.
OBJECTIVE: To assess public opinion with regard to 100% smoke-free legislation and its implementation in the Alexandria governorate.
DESIGN: The Union Middle-East Office, in collaboration with the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics and the MOHP, conducted a cross-sectional survey among 427 randomly selected adults (206 males and 221 females), covering the seven major districts of the Alexandria governorate.
RESULTS: The majority of the interviewed subjects (98%) expressed support of the government in enacting 100% smoke-free indoor legislation in all public places and public transport. Respondents endorsed the government plan to implement legislation imposing 100% smoke-free public places. More than one third (33.5%) of all respondents indicated that they would increase visits to restaurants if they were smoke-free, and 63% indicated no impact at all.
CONCLUSION: The results of the poll clearly support results from different countries worldwide that smoke-free policies are popular and supported by the public.