Access point analysis: what do adolescents in South Africa say about tobacco control programmes?
1 National Health Promotion Research and Development Group, Medical Research Council, South Africa
2 Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
3 Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences, and Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
*Correspondence to D. Swart, Paraffin Safety Association Southern Africa, PO Box 16225, Vlaeberg 8018, Cape Town, South Africa. E-mail: dehran{at}pasasa.org
This paper explores adolescent preferences for the setting, timing, delivery format, provider and key elements of tobacco control programmes. The need for programme sensitivity towards urban/rural, gender and ethnic subgroups is also discussed. Schools were purposively selected from the Southern Cape–Karoo Region, South Africa. Twelve prevention and nine cessation focus group discussions were conducted with Grade 6–8 students and Grade 8–9 smokers and ex-smokers, respectively. Adolescents reported similar preferences for prevention and cessation programmes. Although they were unaware of smoking prevention or cessation programmes, they reported a willingness to participate in such programmes. Programmes should include school-based activities that are supported by out-of-school activities held over weekends and holidays. Non-judgemental and empathetic teachers and peers, as well as ex-smokers were preferred as programme providers. School-based participatory delivery formats should be supported by community-based mass media approaches. Programmes can be jointly presented to boys and girls of diverse ethnic backgrounds with some gender-sensitive sessions. Programme participation and sustainability would be enhanced if it were exciting, fun filled and integrated into their daily lives. School-based programmes must be embedded within comprehensive approaches that involve community- and policy-level interventions.