Abstract

SUAREZ LUGO, Nery; CARABALLOSO HERNANDEZ, Magali  and  MANUEL RODRIGUEZ CUELEZ, Delvys. Smoking control legislation in Cuba. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2008, vol.34, n.3. ISSN 0864-3466.

Introduction The Resolution 5570 of 2005 passed by the Executive Commission of the Council of Ministers protects the Cuban population through the control of selling cigarettes to children and of forbidding smoking in closed public places and in health and educational institutions, and plays a role in promoting healthy lifestyles. Objectives To characterize the enforcement of the regulations and of the ban on smoking defined in the Resolution no. 5570 of the Executive Commission of the Council of Ministers. Methods An observational descriptive study. The universe of study was Habana del Este municipality in the City of Havana province where one-stage cluster sampling was conducted. Primary data were collected from structured observational guides and interviews. Data was computer-processed and the results were given as percentages. Results Signs indicating the ban on selling cigarettes to children were seen in 44,8% points of sale but they were less frequent in bars and restaurants (66.7 %). 13.8 % of these placed did not abide by the legislation. Signs were seen in 45.9 % of no smoking places but in 48.6 % of them, there were people who smoked, including 41.4 % of the staff at work; the healthcare personnel accounted for the highest percentage. Managers ignored the placing of such signs in their entities. Conclusions The enforcement of and compliance with regulations on cigarette sale control and ban on smoking in closed public places as established by Resolution 5570 of 2005 was poor in Habana del Este municipality in 2007; and in this regard, the main determining factors were lack of control and exigency.

Keywords : Smoking; legislation; Cuba.

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