Version:

Date: Wednesday 10, 2010

Category: Article


Language: English


Organisation:


Keywords: smokefree secondhand smoke media campaign policy Mexico

et al., Thrasher James F.

Differential impact of local and federal smoke-free legislation in Mexico: A longitudinal study of campaign exposure, support for smoke-free policies and secondhand tobacco smoke exposure among adult smokers

OBJECTIVES:
To assess the impact of Mexico City and federal smoke-free legislation on secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure and support for smoke-free laws, as well as changing exposure to media campaigns that promote smoke-free laws.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Data were analyzed from a cohort of adult smokers in four Mexican cities. For each indicator, city-level prevalence and changes in prevalence were estimated, as were between-city differences in rates of change and post-law prevalence.

RESULTS:
Self-reported exposure to smoke-free mass media campaigns generally increased more dramatically and was higher in post-law Mexico City than in other cities. Support for prohibiting smoking in regulated venues increased in general, but at a greater rate in Mexico City than in other cities. In bars and restaurants/cafés, self-reported SHS exposure decreased in Mexico City and Ciudad Juárez, with significantly greater decreases in Mexico City than in other cities; however, exposure within participants’ workplaces decreased in Tijuana and Guadalajara, but not in Mexico City or Ciudad Juárez.

CONCLUSIONS:
Both federal and local smoke-free legislation were associated with increased support for smoke-free policies and decreased SHS exposure; however, the clearer, more comprehensive smoke-free law in Mexico City was generally accompanied by a greater rate of change. Stronger smoke-free policies and additional mass media campaigns may further decrease harmful SHS exposure.