Published in:
01-03-2012 | Original paper
Using a smokeless tobacco control mass media campaign and other synergistic elements to address social inequalities in India
Authors:
Tahir Turk, Nandita Murukutla, Shefali Gupta, Jagdish Kaur, Sandra Mullin, Ranjana Saradhi, Pankaj Chaturvedi
Published in:
Cancer Causes & Control
|
Special Issue 1/2012
Login to get access
Abstract
The burden of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality in India is substantial, with smokeless tobacco being the predominant form of tobacco use. Use of smokeless tobacco (for example gutkha, paan, khaini, and pan masala) is linked to a host of socioeconomic and cultural factors including gender, regional differences, educational level, and income disparities. Given the scale of the problem, a national social marketing campaign was developed and implemented. The creative approach used testimonials from a surgeon and patients at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. The communication message approach was designed to reflect the realities of disfiguring, disabling, and fatal cancers caused by smokeless tobacco. Evaluation of the campaign identified significant differences across a range of campaign behavioral predictors by audience segments aware of the campaign versus those who were “campaign unaware”. Significant findings were also identified regarding vulnerable groups by gender (female/male) and rural/urban disparities. Findings are discussed in relation to the powerful impact of using graphic, emotive, and testimonial imagery for tobacco control with socially disadvantaged groups.