| Summary: | Introduction
Implementation of and compliance with smoke-free policies (SFPs)
can be problematic in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to
limited resources. This study evaluated knowledge, opinions and compliance
related to Ghana’s SFPs among owners and staff of hospitality venues by city,
staff designation, and venue type.
Methods
A cross-sectional study design was used in venue types including hotels,
bars, pubs and restaurants in the three cities of Kumasi, Accra, and Tamale, in
Ghana.
Data were collected between July and September 2019. Interviewer administered
face-to-face surveys were conducted with owners and staff (n=142) recruited
from randomly selected hospitality venues (n=154) in these three large cities
of Ghana. The relationship between knowledge, opinions, and compliance items
on SFPs, and city, venue type and staff designation was first studied using χ 2 or
a Fisher’s exact test, and then with univariate logistic regression model analysis.
Results
Of the 142 respondents, some had heard of Ghana’s 2012 Tobacco Control
Act (27.5%), smoking restriction in public places (29%), smoke-free places (22%),
and display of ‘no smoking’ signage (6.3%). Knowledge levels were higher in
Accra compared to Tamale (OR=3.08; 95% CI: 1.10–8.60). Staff designation and
type of venue did not have any relationship with knowledge levels. Support for
SFPs was over 80%, but opinions in support of SFPs were lower in Accra than
Tamale (OR=0.25; 95% CI: 0.08–0.71). Compliance with SFPs was similar in the
three cities. Hotels were three times more compliant compared to bars and pubs
(OR=3.16; 95% CI: 1.48–6.71).
Conclusions
The study highlights the strong support for restriction of smoking
in public places including hospitality venues despite poor knowledge and low
compliance levels with the current SFPs. A review of the current SFP in Ghana
together with education of hospitality staff on the benefits and requirements of
SFPs is recommended.
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