Using behaviour change interventions to decrease tobacco use in Nepal
This brief recommends integrating tobacco cessation support into the regular health care system to help existing smokers to quit
Abstract
Nepal has the highest rates of tobacco use in South Asia. While increasing focus is being placed on raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, there are currently no programmes to support people who already use tobacco to quit effectively.
This study recommends integrating tobacco cessation support into the regular health care system to help existing smokers to quit. It builds on the successful implementation of the ASSIST trial that showed high quit rates with 41% able to quit following brief behaviour change support to patients with suspected TB. The authors assessed the feasibility of a behaviour change intervention within the Practical Approach to Lung Health programme in Primary Health Care Centres in 2 districts of Nepal: Kathmandu and Rupandehi.
This research is supported by the Department for International Development’s COMDIS-HSD Programme which is led by the University of Leeds.
Citation
Sushil Baral, Sudeepa Khanal, Shraddha Manandhar, Dilip Sah, Helen Elsey. Using behaviour change interventions to decrease tobacco use in Nepal. COMDIS-HSD Policy Brief (2014) 4p
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