Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Compliance to the smoke-free law in Guatemala 5-years after implementation

Authors: Joaquín Barnoya, Jose C. Monzon, Paulina Briz, Ana Navas-Acien

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Smoke-free environments decrease smoking prevalence and consequently the incidence of heart disease and lung cancer. Due to issues related to poor enforcement, scant data is currently available from low/middle income countries on the long-term compliance to smoke-free laws. In 2006, high levels of secondhand smoke (SHS) were found in bars and restaurants in Guatemala City. Six months after a smoking ban was implemented in 2009, levels significantly decreased. However, in 2010, poor law compliance was observed. Therefore, we sought to assess long-term compliance to the ban using SHS measurements.

Methods

In 2014 we assessed SHS exposure using airborne nicotine monitors in bars (n = 9) and restaurants (n = 12) for 7 days using the same protocol as in 2006 and in 2009. Nicotine was measured using gas-chromatography (μg/m3) and compared to levels pre- (2006) and post-ban (2009). Employees responded to a survey about SHS exposure, perceived economic impact of the ban and customers’ electronic cigarette use. In addition, we estimated the fines that could have been collected for each law infringement.

Results

Most (71 %) venues still have a smoking section, violating the law. The percentage of samples with detectable nicotine concentrations was 100, 85 and 43 % in 2006, 2009 and 2014, respectively. In bars, median (25th and 75th percentiles) nicotine concentrations were 4.58 μg/m3 (1.71, 6.45) in 2006, 0.28 (0.17, 0.66) in 2009, and 0.59 (0.01, 1.45) in 2014. In restaurants, the corresponding medians were 0.58 μg/m3 (0.44, 0.71), 0.04 (0.01, 0.11), and 0.01 (0.01, 0.09). Support for the law continues to be high (88 %) among bar and restaurant employees. Most employees report no economic impact of the law and that a high proportion of customers (78 %) use e-cigarettes. A total of US$50,012 could have been collected in fines.

Conclusions

Long-term compliance to the smoking ban in Guatemala is decreasing. Additional research that evaluates the determinants of non-compliance is needed and could also contribute to improve enforcement and implementation of the smoke-free law in Guatemala.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
World Health Organization. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2009: implementing smoke-free environments. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009.CrossRef
2.
World Health Organization. WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003.
3.
World Health Organization. Tobacco free initiative (World Health Organization): protection from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke: policy recommendations. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2007.
4.
Barnoya J, Mendoza-Montano C, Navas-Acien A. Secondhand smoke exposure in public places in Guatemala: comparison with other Latin American countries. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007;16(12):2730–5.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Barnoya J, Arvizu M, Jones MR, Hernandez JC, Breysse PN, Navas-Acien A. Secondhand smoke exposure in bars and restaurants in Guatemala City: before and after smoking ban evaluation. Cancer Causes Control. 2011;22(1):151–6.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Corral JE, Cornejo JA, Barnoya J. Bars‘and restaurants’ compliance with the Guatemalan smoke-free law during the 2010 Soccer World Cup: a missed opportunity. Tob Control. 2011;20(6):445–6.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Griffith G, Cardone A, Jo C, Valdemoro A, Sebrie E. Implementation of smoke free workplaces: challenges in Latin America. Salud Publica Mex. 2010;52 Suppl 2:S347–54.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Avila-Tang E, Travers MJ, Navas-Acien A. Promoting smoke-free environments in Latin America: a comparison of methods to assess secondhand smoke exposure. Salud Publica Mex. 2010;52:S138–48.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Stillman FA, Hantula DA, Swank R. Creating a smoke-free hospital: attitudes and smoking behaviors of nurses and physicians. Am J Health Promot. 1994;9(2):108–14.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Jones MR, Wipfli H, Shahrir S, Avila-Tang E, Samet JM, Breysse PN, Navas-Acien A, Investigators FBS. Secondhand tobacco smoke: an occupational hazard for smoking and non-smoking bar and nightclub employees. Tob Control. 2013;22(5):308–14.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Congreso Nacional de la República de Guatemala. Decreto 74-2008 "Ley de Creacion de los Ambientes Libres de Humo de Tabaco". Guatemala; 2008.
12.
Edwards R, Thomson G, Wilson N, Waa A, Bullen C, O’Dea D, Gifford H, Glover M, Laugesen M, Woodward A. After the smoke has cleared: evaluation of the impact of a new national smoke-free law in New Zealand. Tob Control. 2008;17(1):e2.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Borland R, Yong HH, Siahpush M, Hyland A, Campbell S, Hastings G, Cummings KM, Fong GT. Support for and reported compliance with smoke-free restaurants and bars by smokers in four countries: findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey. Tob Control. 2006;15 Suppl 3:iii34–41.PubMedPubMedCentral
14.
Apsley A, Semple S. Secondhand smoke levels in Scottish bars 5 years on from the introduction of smoke-free legislation. Tob Control. 2012;21(5):511–3.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Weber MD, Bagwell DA, Fielding JE, Glantz SA. Long term compliance with California’s smoke-free workplace law among bars and restaurants in Los Angeles County. Tob Control. 2003;12(3):269–73.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
16.
Thrasher JF, Nayeli Abad-Vivero E, Sebrie EM, Barrientos-Gutierrez T, Boado M, Yong HH, Arillo-Santillan E, Bianco E. Tobacco smoke exposure in public places and workplaces after smoke-free policy implementation: a longitudinal analysis of smoker cohorts in Mexico and Uruguay. Health Policy Plan. 2013;28(8):789–98.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
17.
Lee JT, Glantz SA, Millett C. Effect of smoke-free legislation on adult smoking behaviour in England in the 18 months following implementation. PLoS One. 2011;6(6):e20933.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
18.
Fong GT, Craig LV, Guignard R, Nagelhout GE, Tait MK, Driezen P, Kennedy RD, Boudreau C, Wilquin JL, Deutsch A et al. Evaluating the effectiveness of france’s indoor smoke-free law 1 year and 5 years after implementation: findings from the ITC France survey. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e66692.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Shamo F, Wilson T, Kiley J, Repace J. Assessing the effect of Michigan’s smoke-free law on air quality inside restaurants and casinos: a before-and-after observational study. BMJ Open. 2015;5(7):e007530.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
20.
De Leon S. Dos hombres contra el humo del tabaco de un pais. Guatemala: elPeriodico; 2014.
21.
Mons U, Nagelhout GE, Guignard R, McNeill A, van den Putte B, Willemsen MC, Brenner H, Pötschke-Langer M, Breitling LP. Comprehensive smoke-free policies attract more support from smokers in Europe than partial policies. Eur J Public Health. 2012;22:10.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
22.
Osypuk TL, Acevedo-Garcia D. Support for smoke-free policies: a nationwide analysis of immigrants, US-born, and other demographic groups, 1995–2002. Am J Public Health. 2010;100(1):171–81.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
23.
Siahpush M, Scollo M. Trends in public support for smoking bans in public places in Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2001;25(5):473.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Walsh RA, Tzelepis F. Support for smoking restrictions in bars and gaming areas: review of Australian studies. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2003;27(3):310–22.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Compliance to the smoke-free law in Guatemala 5-years after implementation
Authors
Joaquín Barnoya
Jose C. Monzon
Paulina Briz
Ana Navas-Acien
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2960-x

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

BMC Public Health 1/2016 Go to the issue

Study protocol

Text Reminders in Colorectal Cancer Screening (TRICCS): Protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Research article

Association between weight control failure and suicidal ideation in overweight and obese adults: a cross-sectional study

Research article

Social context surrounding HIV diagnosis and construction of masculinity: a qualitative study of stigma experiences of heterosexual HIV positive men in southwest Nigeria

Research article

Association between malaria and malnutrition among children aged under-five years in Adami Tulu District, south-central Ethiopia: a case–control study

Research article

Precarious employment is a risk factor for poor mental health in young individuals in Sweden: a cohort study with multiple follow-ups

Research article

Investigating patients with an immigration background in Canada: relationships between individual immigrant attitudes, the doctor-patient relationship, and health outcomes