RESUMEN
Engaging partners for tobacco control within low and middle income countries (LMICs) at early stages of tobacco control presents both challenges and opportunities in the global effort to avert the one billion premature tobacco caused deaths projected for this century. The Dominican Republic (DR) is one such early stage country. The current paper reports on lessons learned from 12 years of partnered United States (US)-DR tobacco cessation research conducted through two NIH trials (Proyecto Doble T, PDT1 and 2). The projects began with a grassroots approach of working with interested communities to develop and test interventions for cessation and secondhand smoke reduction that could benefit the communities, while concurrently building local capacity and providing resources, data, and models of implementation that could be used to ripple upward to expand partnerships and tobacco intervention efforts nationally. Lessons learned are discussed in four key areas: partnering for research, logistical issues in setting up the research project, disseminating and national networking, and mentoring. Effectively addressing the global tobacco epidemic will require sustained focus on supporting LMIC infrastructures for tobacco control, drawing on lessons learned across partnered trials such as those reported here, to provide feasible and innovative approaches for addressing this modifiable public health crisis.
RESUMEN
Tobacco use and exposure are serious public health problems that threaten to undermine improvements in maternal and child health, and add to already existing poor pregnancy outcomes in many low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study is to explore factors that characterize tobacco use and cessation during pregnancy among women in the Dominican Republic. This study was part of a larger trial and includes a sample of women who participated in baseline surveillance and community assessments (n = 613). Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable analyses were conducted. Overall, 93.31 % (n = 572) of women experienced a past/current pregnancy and 22.44 % (n = 127) smoked during a past or current pregnancy. Among women who had smoked, 34.13 % (n = 43) stopped smoking due to a pregnancy, and 46.03 % (n = 58) were advised by a health care provider to quit smoking because of pregnancy. Women who were older, Catholic, and had a mother who used tobacco were three times more likely to smoke during a past or current pregnancy. Inability to read or write was also significantly associated with smoking during pregnancy. Women who were able to read and write and were from a tobacco growing community were three times more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy. This study provides a preliminary understanding of factors influencing tobacco use and cessation among pregnant women in the Dominican Republic. It also informs a critical area for public health research and intervention, indicating opportunities to engage the health care provider community in intervening with pregnant women and their families.
Asunto(s)
Mujeres Embarazadas/psicología , Cese del Hábito de Fumar/etnología , Fumar/etnología , Uso de Tabaco/etnología , Adolescente , Adulto , Cultura , República Dominicana/epidemiología , Femenino , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pobreza , Embarazo , Complicaciones del Embarazo/epidemiología , Complicaciones del Embarazo/psicología , Resultado del Embarazo , Fumar/epidemiología , Fumar/psicología , Medio Social , Factores Socioeconómicos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Poblaciones VulnerablesRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to assess the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and practices regarding tobacco use and exposure among pregnant women in the Dominican Republic. METHODS: The survey was conducted in two public health hospitals in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and was administered to a convenience sample of 192 women during prenatal care visits. Analyses examined pregnant women's tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure (SHS), knowledge about risks of smoking and benefits of quitting, and attitudes toward women's tobacco use. All data were collected between April and August 2009. RESULTS: Respondents' age ranged from 18 to 41 years, with a mean age of 25 years (SD = 4.59), a high literacy level (82%), low educational levels (48% less than high school education), and a high unemployment rate (65%). Levels of ever having experimented with cigarettes were 14%, and 5% had ever been a regular smoker. Among all respondents, 3% of women reported being current smokers. When respondents were asked if they would try smoking next year, 7% responded yes, maybe, or don't know. Rates of self-reported SHS among pregnant women were 16%, and 14% reported their young children being exposed to secondhand smoke. More than half of the pregnant women in this study allowed smoking in their home (76%). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a preliminary understanding of tobacco use and exposure among pregnant women and its potential impact on the Dominican Republic's public health efforts that include improving maternal and child health.
Asunto(s)
Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Complicaciones del Embarazo/epidemiología , Mujeres Embarazadas/psicología , Fumar/psicología , Contaminación por Humo de Tabaco/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Cultura , Demografía , República Dominicana/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Percepción , Embarazo , Complicaciones del Embarazo/psicología , Fumar/epidemiología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
A Dominican Republic (DR)-based multi-community trial of smoking cessation viewed health care workers (HCWs) as potential interventionists. Effectively engaging them requires a clear understanding of their attitudes and practices regarding smoking. A Rapid Assessment Procedure, conducted among HCWs in six economically disadvantaged communities, included physicians, nurses, other health professionals, paraprofessionals, and lay workers. Attitudes and practices about smoking were consistent across the 82 HCWs and mostly reflected community views. HCWs lacked proactiveness related to smoking cessation and had a limited view of their role, attributing clients' quitting successes to personal will. Prior cessation training was limited, although interest was generally high. Material resources about smoking cessation were virtually absent. DR HCWs' views represented features both distinct from and common to HCWs elsewhere. Any intervention with HCWs must first raise awareness before addressing their role in smoking cessation, discussing implementation barriers, and include training and materials about risks and effective interventions.