Exploring the Influence of Civil Society Organizations on People’s Smoking Behaviors: A Cross-sectional Study in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Tobacco consumption results in serious health complexities and adverse socio-economic consequences. Bangladesh, one of the highest tobacco producing and consuming countries in the world, has an ambitious vision to be free from tobacco use by 2040.  Realizing this vision requires synergistic efforts between the government and the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to combat the prevalence of tobacco use. However, no comprehensive attempt has been made to investigate whether anti-tobacco campaigns of Civil Society Organizations are associated with the quitting tendencies of youth smokers in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka.

Purpose: This study seeks to explore whether CSOs influence the tobacco (cigarettes) quitting tendency of youth smokers in Dhaka City through their anti-tobacco campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach: Following a quantitative research approach, this study employed a Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Survey to collect data from 407 youth smokers from Dhaka. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for understanding the smokers’ exposure to CSOs’ anti-tobacco campaigns along with various facets of those campaigns and their associations with respondents’ quitting tendencies.

Findings: The findings indicate that age and occupation were significantly associated with youth smokers’ quitting tendencies, and students were more likely to have a quitting tendency compared to youths in other occupations. Beyond socio-economic characteristics, we have found significant associations between different facets of anti-tobacco campaigns and respondents’ tobacco quitting tendencies including the innovative and engaging strategies of the CSOs, dissemination of information regarding the dangers of tobacco use, and campaigns increasing respondents’ health risks for tobacco consumption. Additionally, individuals who perceived that CSOs are influential in shaping tobacco control policies and those who heard about such policy reported higher quitting tendencies.

Conclusion: The study highlights that anti-tobacco campaigns are associated with higher quitting tendencies among Bangladeshi urban youths and underscores the aspects of campaign strategies that can be strengthened to further enhance their effectiveness in encouraging smoking cessation.

Keywords: Civil society organizations, anti-tobacco campaigns, youth smokers, tobacco quitting tendency