Smoking on the margins: a comprehensive analysis of a municipal outdoor smoke-free policy

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Natalie Hemsing¹  Wendy Rice¹  Lorraine Greaves¹  Ann Pederson²  Chizimuzo T. Okoli³  Joan L. Bottorff⁴  Amanda Wiggins⁵  Renée O’Leary⁶ 

[1] BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada;BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, E305, 4500 Oak Street, V6H 3E1, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Faculty of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA;Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada;Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia;University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA;University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada;

关键词: Tobacco control;    Health equity;    Outdoor smoking ban;    Marginalization;    Municipal;    Policy;    population health intervention;    Park;    Beach;    Canada;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-3466-2

 received in 2015-12-10, accepted in 2016-08-05,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThis study examined the formulation, adoption, and implementation of a ban on smoking in the parks and beaches in Vancouver, Canada.MethodsInformed by Critical Multiplism, we explored the policy adoption process, support for and compliance with a local bylaw prohibiting smoking in parks and on beaches, experiences with enforcement, and potential health equity issues through a series of qualitative and quantitative studies.ResultsFindings suggest that there was unanimous support for the introduction of the bylaw among policy makers, as well as a high degree of positive public support. We observed that smoking initially declined following the ban’s implementation, but that smoking practices vary in parks by location. We also found evidence of different levels of enforcement and compliance between settings, and between different populations of park and beach users.ConclusionsOverall success with the implementation of the bylaw is tempered by potential increases in health inequities because of variable enforcement of the ban; greatest levels of smoking appear to continue to occur in the least advantaged areas of the city. Jurisdictions developing such policies need to consider how to allocate sufficient resources to enhance voluntary compliance and ensure that such bylaws do not contribute to health inequities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016