Tobacco Control最新文献

{"title":"Identifying substances suspected of facilitating inhalation or increasing nicotine uptake as part of the enforcement of the Tobacco Products Directive.","authors":"Thibault Mansuy, Alice Mouchet, Jérémie Achille, Clara Neto, Benoît Labarbe","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU (TPD) introduced rules prohibiting tobacco products and liquids for electronic cigarettes with nicotine which contain substances or additives that facilitate inhalation or nicotine uptake. However, this property has not been clearly defined. The present study proposes mechanisms of action to characterise this property, thereby supporting effective enforcement of the TPD. The first step consists of identifying the mechanisms of action that aim to increase the bioavailability of nicotine; to decrease the irritation or aversion related to nicotine; or to increase the concentration of nicotine in the aerosol. Other mechanisms of action were excluded as they do not specifically target nicotine or because they are aiming to increase the 'addictive effect' and should be treated as a separate issue. The second part of the process is to describe the mechanisms of action mentioned above, based on the available data. An extensive list of substances with nicotine inhalation facilitating properties is proposed, containing TRPM8 receptor agonists and β2-adrenoreceptor agonists. Further research on the properties of certain substances, including increased transbuccal permeability, pH alteration and bronchodilator effect, is also suggested.We recommend enforcing a ban on all the substances we listed in cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco and water pipe tobacco. For vaping products, as menthol is one of the most used flavours by users wishing to quit, a benefit-risk balance of a ban on menthol and other TRPM8 receptor agonists in vaping products should be conducted before implementing it. However, the other substances listed should be banned.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144235325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Magnitude, structure and associated factors of illicit cigarette sales in Bangladesh: a pack analysis.","authors":"S M Abdullah, Rumana Huque, Nahian Azad Shashi, Md Tariq Hassan, Mona Kanaan, Kamran Siddiqi","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059131","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2024-059131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Bangladesh's cigarette smoking prevalence remained unchanged (around 14%) between 2009 and 2017. Through tax evasion and regulatory non-compliance, illicit trade might have contributed to the status quo. Little is known about the magnitude of illicit cigarettes in Bangladesh.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed empty cigarette packs collected from retailers and street litter in eight districts in Bangladesh between December 2019 and January 2020. We examined tax stamps on packs to assess tax evasion and printed health warnings, retail prices, sales declarations, misleading descriptors, and duty-free signs to determine packaging law compliance. All but tax-paid and compliant packs were considered illicit. We examined associations between tax evasion and price or non-price factors. Sensitivity and specificity of packaging compliance were measured when used as a proxy for tax evasion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 24 363 cigarette packs examined from sampled districts in Bangladesh (23 207 from shops and 1156 from litter), 5.32% (95% CI: 5.04% to 5.60%) evaded taxes, while only 0.77% (95% CI: 0.4% to 1.4%) were non-compliant with packaging laws, totalling 5.62% (95% CI: 4.3% to 7.1%) illicit share. This neither differed statistically significantly between packs collected from shops (5.47%; 95% CI: 4.2% to 7.0%) and those from litter (8.13%; 95% CI: 5.7% to 11.1%) nor between urban (5.15%; 95% CI: 3.5% to 7.3%) and rural (6.16%; 95% CI: 4.2% to 8.7%) areas. Low-price cigarettes (OR: 3.48; 95% CI: 2.10 to 5.75) and those sold in unconventional shops (OR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.12 to 3.54) were more likely to be tax evaded than high-price cigarettes and those sold in formal shops, respectively. Packaging non-compliance was not a sensitive marker for detecting tax-evaded cigarettes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Bangladesh has a low share of illicit cigarette packs. While surveillance of the illicit cigarette trade is essential, the government should continue to enhance cigarette taxes without concern for its effect on the illicit trade.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144187994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Longitudinal impact of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship on perceptions of harmfulness of tobacco and uptake of heated tobacco products in Japan: findings from the JASTIS study.","authors":"Kayo Togawa, Takahiro Tabuchi, Kota Katanoda","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-058909","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-058909","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Japan lacks regulations governing tobacco advertisements, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) in Japan. We investigate TAPS' impact on harm perceptions and heated tobacco products (HTPs) uptake in Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study sample, comprising adult non-users of HTPs, was derived from a longitudinal internet-based study (JASTIS, Japanese 'Society and New Tobacco' Internet Survey) conducted in 2018 (n=7136) and 2022 (n=15 587). Participants reported whether they had noticed: (1) tobacco advertisements (eg, television, magazines), (2) promotion (eg, discounts/cashbacks), (3) sponsorship and (4) IQOS advertisements claiming reduced harm and clean air (2018 only). Additionally, they reported their perceptions of secondhand tobacco smoke and HTP aerosols, and HTP use. The uptake of HTPs was assessed in the respective follow-up surveys (2019 and 2023). Generalised estimating equation logistic regression models estimated the associations between TAPS exposure, perceived harmfulness of tobacco and subsequent HTP uptake, stratified by cigarette smoking status (never smoking (NS), former smoking (FS) and current smoking (CS)).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Exposure to TAPS was associated with subsequent HTP uptake, with a notable association observed for promotion (OR_NS=2.02, 95% CI: 1.26 to 3.22, OR_CS=1.95, 95% CI: 1.50 to 2.54) and IQOS advertisement (OR_NS=3.39, 95% CI: 1.43 to 8.08, OR_FS=3.17, 95% CI: 1.53 to 6.56, OR_CS=1.83, 95% CI: 1.31 to 2.56). In FS, the association with promotion was observed for 2018 only (OR_{FS_2018}=4.07, 95% CI: 1.94 to 8.53, OR_{FS_2022}=0.79, 95% CI: 0.44 to 1.41) (<i>P_interaction</i> =0.001). The perception that HTP use/aerosols cause minimal harm was associated with certain exposure to TAPS that was also associated with HTP uptake.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>TAPS exposure may reduce perceived harm and increase HTP uptake, even among NS and FS, highlighting the need for comprehensive regulations and risk communication amid shifting public attitudes and tobacco markets.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Regional variations and market share of FDA-authorised products for top-selling electronic cigarette brands in the USA: 2022-2024.","authors":"Ollie Ganz, Melanie LaVake, Patrick V Barnwell, Jonathan Foulds, Cristine D Delnevo","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-058965","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2024-058965","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This paper examines top-selling electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) brands and differences in top-selling brands by region in the USA from 2022 to 2024, and the market share of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorised products in 2023 and 2024 using e-cigarette sales data from Nielsen's Convenience Track system.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Regional analyses included sales data from eight US census divisions. We reported total unit sales and market share by brand, nationally and by region. Data on whether products had FDA marketing authorisation were obtained from FDA's Searchable Tobacco Product Database.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nationally, Vuse, JUUL and NJOY comprised the majority of e-cigarette market share in 2022 (68.3%), 2023 (65.4%) and 2024 (57.5%), and Geek Bar emerged as the third top selling brand in 2024 (11.8%). Aside from these brands, there was a large variation in the top five brands by region across years. Approximately 13.8% of e-cigarette product sales in 2024 were authorised for sale by the FDA, as compared with 3.3% in 2023.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The differences in top brands by region reflect challenges in the surveillance of e-cigarette sales, marketing and use and reflect the rapidly changing disposable e-cigarette marketplace, in which new brands are introduced and popularised at high frequency, as manufacturers of disposable e-cigarettes adapt to exploit regulatory loopholes. In the context of other emerging markets, like nicotine pouches, we urge regulators to act quickly to regulate the market for these products.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143988124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Smoking in North Korea: a qualitative study.","authors":"Jung Jae Lee, Seok-Hyang Kim, Jung-Hee Jeon, Miju Kim","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059113","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>North Korea has taken steps to reduce smoking prevalence and its associated health risks by implementing the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and enacting the Tobacco Control Regulations. Despite local reports and WHO data suggesting a decline in smoking prevalence, significant discrepancies have been found in existing studies. This study was a qualitative exploration of smoking perceptions and experiences to understand the smoking situation in North Korea.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This qualitative study used an interpretive description approach. North Korean defectors who had smoked and/or engaged in smoking-related activities such as tobacco cultivation and sales were recruited from a governmental organisation dedicated to assisting North Korean refugees through purposive sampling. Individual semistructured interviews with open-ended questions were conducted between March and November 2020. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the interview data.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>19 North Koreans participated in this study (mean age 41.47 years). Three primary themes were identified: the normalisation of smoking among males, the use of cigarettes as currency and bribes and the inadequate implementation of tobacco control policy. These themes were further broken down into four, three and three subthemes, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study findings suggest that the normalisation of smoking among North Korean males, driven by strong sociocultural dynamics, contributes to the perceived high smoking prevalence in North Korea. It is crucial for North Korea to implement stringent monitoring and effective interventions for smoking prevention and cessation. Further large-scale quantitative studies are required to confirm these study findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144181194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Awareness and attitudes towards children's cigarette card gaming behaviour among adults aged 15 and above in Shenzhen, China: a population representative cross-sectional study.","authors":"Bingliang Lin, Xiaoyun Xie, Tianqi Chen, Wenlong Lu, Mengyao Li, Yi Nan, Huiyu Xie, Yee Tak Derek Cheung, Man Ping Wang, Tzu Tsun Luk, Lin Xiao, Jingfan Xiong","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Repurposing cigarette packs for flip-and-win games (cigarette card (CC) gaming) is increasingly popular among Chinese children. We examined adults' awareness and attitudes towards this.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A population representative survey was conducted in Shenzhen, China, from September to October 2023, involving 4800 adults (aged 15 and above) with a 94.3% response rate. The sample was weighted to represent all Shenzhen residents older than 15. Respondents aware of the game reported their perceived risk of smoking initiation and their tolerance towards CC gaming. In households with children aged 7-12, respondents also reported whether children had played the game within the past week and identified perceived reasons and sources of CCs. Factors associated with low-risk perception and tolerance were analysed using multivariable logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The weighted adult awareness rate was 15.6% (95% CI 13.8% to 17.5%), while an estimated 3.9% (1.3 to 6.5%) of children played the game. Peer influence (76.8%) and curiosity (20.7%) were the main perceived reasons for participation, with peers (73.2%), trash bins/ground (46.3%) and smoking parents (18.3%) cited as primary sources. 21.5% of adults perceived the game as low risk, and 44.3% expressed tolerance towards it. Low-risk perception was associated with living with children (adjusted OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.37 to 3.13) and tolerance (2.92, 1.95 to 4.36). Tolerance was associated with male sex (1.59, 1.12 to 2.27), older age (65+ vs 15-24 years old, 0.26, 0.08 to 0.89) and low-risk perception (2.86, 1.92 to 4.27).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The high tolerance towards the CC game highlights the urgent need to shift adult attitudes in order to prevent its further spread.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144174991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structured evaluation of gender integration in tobacco control research.","authors":"Tina Nanyangwe-Moyo, Laura J Rosa Pereira, Mathieu Jean-Patrick Poirier","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059334","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059334","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gender norms are known to influence smoking behaviours, but studies evaluating tobacco control policies frequently overlook these factors by relying on gender-blind methodologies. The degree to which gender-sensitive methodological approaches are used in tobacco control research since the adoption of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has not yet been evaluated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We applied the European Institute for Gender Equality's Gender Impact Assessment (EIGE-GIA) toolkit to 43 peer-reviewed studies to assess the integration of gender-sensitive approaches in tobacco control research. Original tobacco control research studies published after 2005 based on nationally representative data were identified from PubMed using targeted search terms and a reverse snowball strategy. Each study was coded against the EIGE-GIA's core criteria of specifying the gendered target group and assessing the gendered impact of policy interventions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 43 studies analysed, 40 identified specific target groups and outlined key challenges related to tobacco use and MPOWER policies, meeting the first EIGE-GIA criterion. However, only 16 studies assessed specific tobacco control policies, and only 5 evaluated the gender-specific impacts of these policies. Many studies failed to meet the second criterion, often relying on binary comparisons that ignore complex gender dynamics.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings reveal persistent gaps in tobacco control research methodologies. Reliance on binary sex-disaggregated data that fail to explore gender-based determinants of health limits our understanding of the effectiveness of tobacco control policy interventions and fails to address gendered smoking behaviours. Researchers should use comprehensive frameworks to guide the assessment of gendered impacts of tobacco control interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144174995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between perceived changes in electronic cigarette retailer density and regulation support among adolescents in China.","authors":"Xibin Sun, Yang Wang, Linnea Laestadius","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059312","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adolescents' support for the regulation of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has been documented to be influenced by various factors, but the commercial environment has rarely been studied. We examined the relationship between adolescents' perceived changes in e-cigarette retailer density and their support for e-cigarette regulations in China and further identified potential underlying pathways.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were collected from a national online cross-sectional survey of Chinese adolescents during 2022-2023 (N=1988). Using structural equation modelling, we examined the association between perceived changes in e-cigarette retailer density and support for e-cigarette regulations, including flavour bans, online sales bans, taxation and comprehensive bans. Specifically, the analyses tested the mediating effects of e-cigarette-related positive outcome expectancy and perceived health risk, along with the moderating effects of e-cigarette use status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>More than half of the participants supported the flavour ban (58.3%), the online sales ban (67.7%) and taxation (71.7%), but only 43.5% supported the comprehensive ban on e-cigarettes. Perceived increases in retailer density were significantly negatively associated with adolescents' regulation support (β=-0.097, 95% CI -0.142 to -0.054), mediated by positive outcome expectancy (β=-0.009, 95% CI -0.017 to -0.003) and perceived health risk (β=-0.045, 95% CI -0.063 to -0.027). However, subgroup analysis found this association to be significant only in never users, rather than those who had tried e-cigarettes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Positive outcome expectancy and perceived health risk simultaneously influenced the negative association between perceived increases in e-cigarette retailer density and regulation support among adolescents who never vaped. Measures are needed to address the perceptions of increasing e-cigarette retailer density among adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144161140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying key barriers and facilitators to implementing a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-guided tobacco control policy in Mexico.","authors":"Eric Crosbie, Sara Perez, Katherine Rojas Barreto, Adriana Rocha Camarena, Valentina Ochoa, Alejandra Bolanos Casarin, Gianella Severini, Patricia Gutkowski, Patricia Sosa, Ernesto Marcelo Sebrié","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To document the key barriers and facilitators to implementing a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-guided tobacco control law in Mexico.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed public submissions to the 2022 General Law for Tobacco Control (GLTC) regulations and interviewed 14 key stakeholders. We applied the Policy Dystopia Model and thematic framework analysis to examine the data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between July and November 2022, 421 public comments (376 in opposition, 38 in favour) were submitted to the GLTC regulations. The top opposing discursive strategies (80.5%) argued the regulations would cause unanticipated costs to the economy, society and public health. The top supporting discursive strategies (50.5%) argued the policy would protect people who do not smoke and save lives, which led to upholding strong regulations. Key barriers to implementation included industry interference, monitoring and evaluation system legal issues, lack of funding and resources, government system coordination issues and a lack in organisational knowledge. The tobacco and restaurant industry and convenience stores filed over 2500 constitutional lawsuits (amparos) throughout Mexico challenging the regulation's legality, which has delayed and undermined enforcement. Key facilitators included government and intergovernmental support, financial mechanisms and health advocacy support, which contributed to education efforts, increased monitoring and technical support to address injunctions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The tobacco industry remains the biggest barrier to implementation, using legal and economic arguments to weaken regulations and shifting venues to the judicial branch to undermine enforcement efforts. Lack of resources and legal delays remain key barriers. Financial and technical support and communicating the economic importance of tobacco control can help uphold strong regulations. More efforts are needed to educate judicial systems to protect policies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144133232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Waterpipe tobacco and public health: a content analysis of media discourse on waterpipe tobacco smoking across Africa.","authors":"Olufemi A Erinoso, Munachimso Emesobum, Sara Perez, Caroline Fuss, Ernesto Marcelo Sebrié, Eric Crosbie","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059247","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059247","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Despite its known health risks, the tobacco epidemic is evolving as waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) in Africa increases. This study explores media coverage of WTS in Africa to identify key themes, misinformation and opportunities for public health education.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between October and December 2023, we analysed media articles using Tobacco Watcher, an online surveillance portal that compiles news from over 595 000 web sources. We searched for English-language articles published in Africa that discussed WTS between 2012 and 2023 with Boolean terms (ie, 'shisha OR hookah OR waterpipe OR narghile AND Africa'). Themes identified include WTS regulations, health risks, venues, youth uptake, misconceptions/myths and tobacco industry perspectives.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found 137 eligible articles from 15 of the 54 African countries. Most articles came from Kenya (n=39), Nigeria (n=21) and Egypt (n=17). 92 (67.1%) discussed the health risks of WTS, 37 (27.0%) referenced youth uptake and 6 (4.4%) discussed tobacco industry views about WTS. Over two-thirds (n=97, 70.8%) of articles discussed proposed or implemented WTS bans, with most from Kenya (n=34). Additionally, 27 (19.7%) discussed misconceptions/myths related to WTS, of which Nigeria (n=7) and Ghana (n=5) had the highest proportion.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings reveal widespread concern about health risks and strong interest in the regulation of WTS in the media. A significant portion of articles discussed misconceptions about WTS, highlighting the need for targeted education campaigns to dispel myths and protect public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144128069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}