The Role of Tehranian Citizens’ Participation in Realization «Tobacco-Free Tehran Programme»

Abstract

Background and Objec ti ve: «Tobacco-Free Tehran Programme» was implemented by the Municipality of Tehran with the aim of crea ti ng a city-free by building awareness and sensi ti vity to the dangers of tobacco use. The researcher has analyzed the role of Tehranian ci ti zens’ par ti cipa ti on in the realiza ti on of the «Tobacco-Free Tehran Programme». Materials and Methods: The present has been conducted by survey method and ques ti onnaire technique among 384 persons of ci ti zens par ti cipa ti ng in tobacco control preven ti on programs in a tobacco-free week in 22 districts of Tehran municipality by convenience sampling method. Results: Findings showed that 14.8% had complete knowledge about Tehran city without tobacco plan, 30.7% had sporadic informa ti on about this plan and 41.9% had no informa ti on about it. The results of the one-sample t-test showed that the level of ci ti zen›s knowledge and par ti cipa ti on in the «Tobacco-Free Tehran Programme» was low. Also, par ti cipa ti on rate of non-smokers, women, older age groups and married people was higher than the others, but the par ti cipa ti on of di ff erent educa ti onal and occupa ti onal groups was the same. Conclusion: Findings implies that Tobacco-Free Tehran Programme has failed to achieve its intended objec ti ves in the past few years in the fi eld of tobacco control, and one of the main reasons for this has been the lack or weakness of public par ti cipa ti on.