Tobacco Control Measures in Bangladesh: KAP Survey on Informal Tobacco Economy

Abstract

This research aims to explore the ‘Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP)’ of government’s current tobacco control measures among informal tobacco sellers in Bangladesh. The KAP survey method was applied for collecting information from 400 sellers over seven regional divisions in Bangladesh. The subsequent data analysis was performed using SPSS software to derive the findings from the survey. The study explores that more than half of tobacco sellers are tobacco consumers themselves, of which more than four-fifth consumed tobacco at their Point of Sale (POS). Majority of informal tobacco shops were found in the public places although these sellers reported their acquaintance with the government’s tobacco control Act prohibiting the tobacco usage in such locations. Indirect advertisement was prevalent in about half of those shops. Majority of the sellers used to sell tobacco to minors. About one-fifth of sellers received some form of incentive from tobacco companies while two-third of them received gift items. Since informal tobacco sellers, mostly mobile, reach out the largest pool of consumers making tobacco available near-at-hand, government’s current tobacco control regulations should encompass the informal economy of tobacco sales to prevent massive violation of tobacco control Act by these sellers. Social Science Review, Vol. 37(2), Dec 2020 Page 201-215