Cartography monitoring of tobacco industries in Côte d´Ivoire

• Main Author: Tra Bi Boli Francis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: European Publishing 2018-03-01
• Series: Tobacco Induced Diseases
• Subjects: WCTOH
• Online Access: http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Cartography-monitoring-of-tobacco-industries-in-C-244-te-d-Ivoire,84270,0,2.html

Background With the end of crisis sociopolitical in 2011, Côte d´Ivoire calls for capital from diverse investors to finance its reflation. In this context, the tobacco firms could use strategies to present themselves as socioeconomic development's actors. This situation could lead a risk of thoses firms' interfering in the political and financial public decisions. This study is part of a strategic approach based on the assumption that the better you know your opponent, the better you fight. Thus, improving tobacco control would require a better understanding of the actors providing this product for consumption: the tobacco industries. This article aims to identify the entities of the tobacco industry operating in Côte d´Ivoire throughout the chain in terms of production, processing, distribution (import, export), etc., their allies and frontal groups; to understand their interference strategies and tactics, and their marketing strategies used in our country. Methods At the methodological level, a triangulation of data collection tools (documentary research, field visits and interviews) was carried out. These data were treated both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results The results identify the entire tobacco production chain in Côte d´Ivoire. They also highlight the inter-union organizations of employees of tobacco companies as actors that these firms use to increase their margins of maneuver and the weight of tobacco firms in the Ivorian economy. Thus, recommendations are made to improve the process of implementation of the project to support the adoption of a tobacco law in Côte d´Ivoire and limit the interference of the tobacco industry. Conclusions The Ivorian State made numerous efforts in the application of the WHO FCTC's requirements. However, the tobacco firms are still using strategies to interfere in the political decisions, in particular the anti-smoking law. Therfore, it is convenient to collect data on these tobacco firms to constitute arguments of plea and and counter measures.