The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Tobacco control policy has been shown to be an important factor in the reduction of tobacco consumption. However, its effectiveness also depends on the perceptions of the target audience, characteristics of the social group environment, and strategies used to implement policy. The primary goal of this study was to examine women's perceptions about tobacco control policy in their workplaces and to analyze companies' strategies regarding the same issue.

Methods: Based on extensive qualitative data a questionnaire was developed and administrated among women (N=1005) at workplaces in 4 public and 5 private companies in Curitiba Metropolitan Area (Parana, Brazil). We also interviewed administration representatives to assess companies' policy regarding tobacco control and their implementation strategies. For analytical purposes, companies were divided into three groups: A) 4 workplaces with written smoking policy, B) 3 sites with verbally transmitted policy, and C) 2 workplaces with no written and no verbally transmitted policy.

Results: Smoking prevalence in this study is 16.1%. Regardless their smoking status women reported to realize that their worksite has a smoking policy with significant difference among workplace group (X²=82.44, p<.0001; 86.4% in Group A, 81.7% in Group B, and 50% in Group C). In Group A (82.3%) and B (87.2%) participants where more likely to affirm that they know the regulation than in Group C (56.3%) (X²=34.75, p<.0001). When participants where asked about who follows the regulation, current smokers were more likely to affirm that all smokers or most of the smokers do it, regardless the workplace group.