Knowledge is necessary but not sufficient to change behaviour.

We read: "The post-campaign study was designed to measure the ... behaviour of smokeless tobacco users".

Where are the findings related to behaviour? How many respondents decreased their betel/tobacco chewing?

Jamie

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Campaign to stamp out betel makes gains
Myint Kay Thi
8 May 2018

The anti-betel media campaign launched last year by the government appears to be effective, with a survey showing that nearly 90 percent of people targeted remember the campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of smokeless tobacco.

The result of post-campaign research was released on Monday by the People’s Health Foundation Office in Yangon.

The mass anti-betel chewing media campaign was launched in September-October 2017 by the Ministry of Health and Sports and the foundation to alert people about the risk of tobacco use and betel chewing.

“We can say the campaign reached most places. The result showed improvement of the public’s knowledge. Most people remember the campaign, “said Dr Than Sein, president of the foundation.

According to the research, 87pc of people interviewed expressed concern about the effect of smokeless tobacco on their health while 84pc said they remembered the campaign. Another 62pc stated that they are trying to quit.

The post-campaign study was designed to measure the impact of the campaign, and knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of smokeless tobacco users, according to ther foundation.

For the study, 245 betel users were interviewed from randomly selected households in six townships - Mingalardon and Thanlyin in Yangon, Kyaukse and Thazi in Mandalay, and Yesagyo and Natmauk in Magwe.

By launching the campaign, we hope to reduce the use of betel and smokeless tobacco, said Dr Than Sein.

A second campaign is scheduled for this year.

“In the last quarter of 2018, we will assist the ministry in organising another media campaign,” he added.

Campaigns to raise public awareness are an effective way to reduce tobacco use in the country, said Dr Stephan Paul Jost, Myanmar country representative of WHO.

Beyond governmental intervention, it is also the responsibility of civil society organisations and the public to fight against the use of tobacco, he said.

“We (WHO) provide technical support and we are working with partners in Myanmar on the issue. We must urgently work together to reduce betel chewing,” he said.

Ko Zaw Zaw Htay, a smoker from Yangon, said, “I’m still smoking even though I’ve seen the campaign’s visuals on health warning and I know of the dangers of smoking. But it would be helpful for the youth if tobacco use can be prevented”.

“Tobacco is killing over 60,000 people every year. Together we can bring the death toll down,” added Dr Than Sein.

More than 7 million Myanmar people are consuming tobacco daily in the country and around 30 percent of adults over 15 years old use smokeless tobacco or chewing betel quid.

https://www.mmtimes.com/news/campaign-stamp-out-betel-makes-gains.html