A REPORT ON FINDING OF A SURVEY ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES ON TOBACCO SMOKE POLLUTION AND WARNING LABELS
BY
JOSEPHINE NABISINJA
SAMUEL OONYU
KENNETH AKAMPURIRA
AUGUST 2003
KEY FINDINGS
Warning Labels
1. 92.6% of the respondents including a majority of the smokers agreed that warning labels should be in big print
2. 94.8% of the respondents including a majority of smokers agreed that the warning labels should carry pictures;
According to one respondent, "I compare it with road signs. Even if you do not know how to read you can understand an illustration".
3. 90.7% of the Respondents including a majority of smokers agreed that the warning labels should mention specific diseases;
4. The preferred choice of languages of the Respondents for the warning labels was English, Swahili & Luganda;
Second- hand Smoke
5. 88.2% of the Respondents including 75.2% of the smokers agreed that tobacco smoke pollution was harmful to non-smokers;
6. 92.6% of the Respondents including 84.7% of the smokers agreed that smoking should be banned in public places such as public transport, shops, offices and bars;
Health
7. More non-smokers than smokers were aware of the health risks of tobacco use.
A REPORT ON FINDING OF A SURVEY ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES ON TOBACCO SMOKE POLLUTION AND WARNING LABELS
This report is wholly composed of findings obtained pursuant to the administration of a questionnaire whose objective was to assess or explore into public attitudes on tobacco smoke pollution and warning labels.
The results contained herein are an outcome of responses obtained from Kawanda, Nakulabye, Kamwokya, Wandegeya, Makerere, Ntinda, Kalerwe Market, Mulago triangle zone, Kololo, Bweyogerere, Jinja Road, Kampala Road, Kiira Road, Bukoto, Biina, Luzira, Kawempe, Namuwongo, Mutungo and Nnalya.
The research was also extended to Mukono (Nabuti), Mbarara (Kamukuzi, Market places, and High Street), Bushenyi Town.
The research was carried out by three researchers namely; Josephine Nabisinja, Samuel Ejoku Oonyu and Kenneth Akampurira.
The research involved 517 respondents 412 of who were non-smokers with 105 being smokers. The findings of the research are hereunder indicated.
The findings indicate that 87.6% (n=105) of the smokers agreed that smoking is harmful to health while 12.4% (n=105) were unsure disagreed or strongly disagreed that it is harmful to health. On the other hand 97.1% (n=412) of the non-smokers agreed that smoking is harmful to health while 2.9% (n=412) of the non-smokers were unsure or disagreed that it is harmful. Comparatively the results show that more non-smokers agree that smoking is harmful.
The results show that 48.8% (n=412) of the non-smokers agreed that smoking cause heart and circulatory diseases while 51.1% (n=-412) were not sure or disagreed that it caused heart and circulatory diseases. On the other hand 43.8% (n=105) of the smokers agree that smoking causes heart and circulatory diseases while 56.2% (n=105) of the smokers were either unsure or disagreed that it did.
78.6% (n=412) of the non-smokers agreed or strongly agreed that smoking cause cancer while 21.4% (n=412) of the non-smokers were not sure or disagreed. On the other hand 78.1% (n=105) smokers strongly agreed that smoking causes of cancer while 21.9% (n=105) of the smokers were unsure or disagreed that smoking caused cancer. 69.9% (n=412) of the non-smokers agreed that smoking causes respiratory diseases while 30.1% (n=412) of the non-smokers did not express an opinion or disagreed that it causes respiratory diseases. On the other hand 61% (n=105) of the smokers agreed that smoking causes respiratory diseases while 39% (n=105) were either unsure or disagreed that it did.
23% (n=412) of the non-smokers agree that smoking causes other diseases apart from the above while 77% (n=412) of the non-smokers were either unsure or disagreed. Notably the other infections were identified by the respondents to include placental dysfunction in expectant mothers resulting in underweight babies. On the other hand 19% (n=105) of the smokers agree that smoking causes other diseases while 80.9% (n=105) of the smokers were unsure or disagreed that it caused other diseases.
Research shows that 92.5% (n=412) of the non-smokers agree that smoking is addictive while 7.5% (n=412) of the non-smokers agree that it is not addictive. On the other hand 91.5% (n=105) of the smokers agree that smoking is addictive while 8.5% (n=105) of the smokers were either unsure or disagreed that it is addictive.
The results on passive smoking indicate that 91.5% (n=412) of the non-smokers agree that passive smoking harms non-smokers while 8.5% (n=412) disagreed. On the contrary 75.2% (n=105) of the smokers agree that second hand smoke harms non-smokers whereas 24.8% (n=105) did not think so. 82% (n=412) of the non-smokers agree that passive smoking increases the risk of heart and lung infection while 18% (n=412) disagreed. On the other hand 60.9% (n=105) of the smokers agreed that passive smoking increases the risk of heart and lung disease in non-smokers while 39% (n=105) disagreed.
88.2% (n=517) of the respondents agreed that second hand smoke harms non-smokers. 7.9% (n=517) were unsure and 3.9% (n=517) disagreed.
84.7% (n=105) of the smokers agreed that smoking in public places should be banned while 7.7% (n=105) disagreed and 7.6% (n=105) did not express an opinion. On the other hand 94.6% (n=412) of the non-smokers thought that smoking in public places should be banned while 2.5% (n=412) disagreed and 2.9% (n=412) did not opine. In totality 92.6% (n=517) of all respondents agreed that smoking in public places should be banned, 3.9% (n=517) did not opine and 3.5% (n=517) disagreed that it should be banned.
Many of the respondents enumerated public places to include, public transport, bars, churches, mosques, shops, offices, stadium, roads, and hospitals among others.
95.1% (n=412) of the non-smokers agreed that warning labels on cigarette packets should be in big print. Many were cognizant of the fact that warning labels are often ignored by smokers and also that cigarette manufacturers would not like to embarrass their customers with stingy labeling. Other respondents suggested that there should signposts everywhere or billboard showing the dangers of smoking. 3.1% (n=412) of the non-smokers disagreed that the labels should be bigger and 1.7% (n=412) were unsure of what to say.
On the other hand, 88.5% (n=105) of the smokers thought that warning labels should be in big print, 8.6% (n=105) did not think so and 2.9% (n=105) were not of any opinion.
Of the 517 respondents 92.6% (n=517) agreed that warning labels should be in big print, 1.9% (n=517) gave no response and 4.3% (n=517) disagreed that they should be in big print.
As regards picture messages, 89.8% (n=105) of the smokers strongly agreed or agreed that warnings should include pictures so that illiterates can understand the messages. One respondent said;
"… I compare it with road signs. Even if you do not know how to read you can understand an illustration.."
On the other hand 96.2% (n=412) of the non-smokers agreed that warning labels should include pictures while 2.4% (n=412) did not think they should and 1.5% (n=412) were of no opinion regarding picture messages.
On aggregate 94.8% (n=517) of the respondents agreed that warning labels should include pictures, 1.9% (n=517) were unsure and 3.3% (n=517) disagreed that warning labels should include pictures.
On the specificity of messages 81.9% (n=105) of the smokers agreed that warning messages should be disease specific while 14.3% (n=105) disagreed while 3.8% (n=105) of the smokers were not sure of anything. On the other hand 92.9% (n=412) of the non-smokers said that the packets should carry specific messages while 2.2% (n=412) of the non-smokers disagreed and 4.9% (n=412) did not opine.
The final result shows that 90.7% (n=517) of the people polled agreed that warning messages should be disease specific. 4.6% (n=517) did not express an opinion on the matter and 4.6% (n=517) disagreed.
The research finally went on to find out in what languages the labels should be printed. The responses are as below;
English 303
Luganda 196
French 9
Luo 23
Runyakitara 43
German 2
Lusoga 1
Ateso 13
Karamojong 1
Latin 1
Lugbara 5
Madi 2
Lugisu 1
Swahili 200
All languages 154
It is note worthy that most respondents suggested all languages because they though that smoking was not a speciality of a particular tribe while others thought that the company should print all languages and distribute the cigarettes according to the languages spoken in a particular area. Another respondent suggested that it should be printed in various languages but in small print to accommodate approximately 10 languages.
On an important note, another respondent (smoker) said
"An accompanying paper on which the warnings are written
should be put inside the packets and written in all languages
like most drugs and toilet soap
TOBACCO WARNING LABELS SURVEY
Codes 1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Unsure
4. Disagree
5. Strongly disagree
1. Smoking is harmful to your health
2. What diseases does tobacco cause?
Heart & circulatory disease Cancers
Respiratory diseases others
3. Smoking is addictive
4. Passive smoking harms non- smokers
5. Passive smoking increases the risk of heart and lung disease in non-smokers
6. Smoking in public places should be banned
[invite respondent to suggest which places]
7. Health warnings on cigarette packets should be in big print
8. Health warnings should include pictures so that illiterates can understand the message
9. Warnings on cigarette packets should carry specific messages about diseases caused by smoking such as "Tobacco causes lung cancer" and "Tobacco causes heart disease"
10. In what language(s) should the health warning be printed?
LOCATION ______________________