IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i6p3398-d770482.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Smokeless Tobacco in Uganda: Perceptions among Tobacco Control Stakeholders

Author

Listed:
  • Denis Male

    (Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, School of Food Technology Nutrition and Bioengineering, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda)

  • Shirley Kansabe

    (Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, School of Food Technology Nutrition and Bioengineering, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda)

  • Hafsa Lukwata

    (Mental Health Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala P.O. Box 7272, Uganda)

  • Alexander Rubanga

    (International Affairs Unit, Uganda Revenue Authority, Kampala P.O. Box 7279, Uganda)

  • Kamran Siddiqi

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Seebohm Rowntree Building, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK)

  • Linda Bauld

    (Usher Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK)

  • Ann McNeill

    (Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8BB, UK)

  • Fiona Dobbie

    (Usher Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK)

Abstract

The use and sale of smokeless tobacco (SLT) is prohibited in Uganda under the Tobacco Control Act (TCA), 2015. Nonetheless, SLT products remain available, and there are limited and inconsistent data on SLT users. Additionally, the perceptions of tobacco control stakeholders on SLT are unknown, making it difficult to determine barriers to enforcing the ban. This study examined perceptions of tobacco control stakeholders regarding SLT in Uganda. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders who were purposively selected from ministries, semi-autonomous government agencies and Civil Society Organizations. Interviews explored knowledge, attitudes, perceptions of SLT appeal, and user demographics. Data were analysed using Nvivo V.12 software. Participants demonstrated a general lack of awareness of SLT product types and the extent of their use. They believed SLT use was increasing among females and minors and was as harmful to health and the economy as smoking. SLT products were thought to be cheaper than cigarettes and to appeal to minors. Discreet use was thought to help users overcome the cultural aversion towards tobacco use among women and youth in Uganda. There is an urgent need to strengthen the implementation of the SLT ban whilst also increasing efforts to reduce tobacco smoking.

Suggested Citation

  • Denis Male & Shirley Kansabe & Hafsa Lukwata & Alexander Rubanga & Kamran Siddiqi & Linda Bauld & Ann McNeill & Fiona Dobbie, 2022. "Smokeless Tobacco in Uganda: Perceptions among Tobacco Control Stakeholders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-10, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3398-:d:770482
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/6/3398/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/6/3398/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Choi, K. & Fabian, L. & Mottey, N. & Corbett, A. & Forster, J., 2012. "Young adults' favorable perceptions of snus, dissolvable tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes: Findings from a focus group study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(11), pages 2088-2093.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Elle Wadsworth & Joanne Neale & Ann McNeill & Sara C. Hitchman, 2016. "How and Why Do Smokers Start Using E-Cigarettes? Qualitative Study of Vapers in London, UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Jennifer C. Morgan & Joseph N. Cappella, 2021. "Harm Perceptions and Beliefs about Potential Modified Risk Tobacco Products," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Bell, Kirsten & Keane, Helen, 2014. "All gates lead to smoking: The ‘gateway theory’, e-cigarettes and the remaking of nicotine," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 45-52.
    4. Sarah D. Kowitt & Clare Meernik & Hannah M. Baker & Amira Osman & Li-Ling Huang & Adam O. Goldstein, 2017. "Perceptions and Experiences with Flavored Non-Menthol Tobacco Products: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Clare Meernik & Hannah M. Baker & Karina Paci & Isaiah Fischer-Brown & Daniel Dunlap & Adam O. Goldstein, 2015. "Electronic Cigarettes on Hospital Campuses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Dorota Kaleta & Mirosław Niedzin & Agnieszka Jankowska & Kinga Polańska, 2019. "Predictors of E-Cigarette Use Susceptibility—A Study of Young People from a Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Rural Area in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-11, October.
    7. Lei Wang & Yongcheng Zhan & Qiudan Li & Daniel D. Zeng & Scott J. Leischow & Janet Okamoto, 2015. "An Examination of Electronic Cigarette Content on Social Media: Analysis of E-Cigarette Flavor Content on Reddit," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3398-:d:770482. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.