Project ACTIVITY

HRIDAY in collaboration with University of Texas, USA is conducting a research study entitled “Advancing Cessation of Tobacco in Vulnerable Indian Tobacco Consuming Youth (ACTIVITY)”. This trial was funded by the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Project ACTIVITY is a group-randomized intervention trial designed to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, community-based approach to tobacco control for youth(10-19 years), living in urban slums in Delhi, India.
The specific aims of the project are: (1)To conduct a cluster randomized trial, in slum-dwelling and other low income residential communities of Delhi, of non-pharmacologic community led behavioral intervention intended to promote cessation of tobacco use by adolescent consumers of tobacco, in order to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of such interventions; (2) To identify the demographic and psychosocial factors associated with the uptake and cessation of tobacco products by adolescents residing in such communities; (3) To increase the capacity of Indian investigators, research staff, partner NGOs, community leaders and youth self help groups to implement tobacco cessation programs in low resources community settings; (4) To increase the capacity of US investigators to adapt research methods validated in developed countries for application in a developing country.

This research study addresses the etiology of tobacco use among disadvantaged youth in India, as well as the cost- benefit of a multi- component intervention and the results of this study are expected to provide information on effectiveness of the community based behavioral intervention for promoting tobacco cessation among disadvantaged youth living in urban slums.

In the initial stage of this project, field visits were conducted to identify the communities as per the selection criteria. Meetings were held with NGO personnel for their collaboration and to brief them about the project activities. Census of all the communities selected for the project was conducted and currently the baseline survey in all the selected communities is in the process. The objective of the survey is to obtain information on prevalence, patterns of tobacco use and to explore determinants that promote tobacco use and tobacco cessation. Based on the results of the focus group discussions conducted and previous experiences a comprehensive community based tobacco control intervention strategies are being developed.

The project aimed at conducting a youth led campaign to monitor implementation of ban on smoking in public places to make Delhi Smoke Free. In this regard HRIDAY- SHAN initiated an awareness and advocacy campaign “Smoke Free Restaurant” to sensitize the restaurant and hotel owners in Delhi about the rules notified by Government of India related to prohibition of smoking in public places and the provisions for designating smoking and non-smoking areas in restaurants.

Students visited restaurants/hotels in Delhi to collect the baseline data by observation and by interviewing the owner/ manager/incharge of hotels and restaurants to gauge the current status on enforcement of ban on smoking in public places enacted by the GOI and notified by the Delhi government. The students again visited these restaurants after 15 days to see whether the smoke –free provisions of the law were being implemented by the hotel/ restaurant owners. Analysis of the baseline nad endline data is being done and soon the results will be available.

Youth activists representing HRIDAY, a Delhi based voluntary health organisation, engaged in health promotion activities among youth in India, had undertaken a monitoring campaign in randomly selected restaurants across Delhi to gauge the level of implementation of the smoke- free rules. A total of 61 restaurants/ food joints, pub/bars and hookah bar were visited as part of the campaign. To our surprise only 28% of the restaurants had ‘No- Smoking’ signage at entrance and at any conspicuous place inside the restaurant. Out of these, more than 60% didn’t comply with the signage specifications outlined in the law. 98% of the restaurants did not mention the name of the person to whom complaints regarding violations can be directed - which is an essential component of the rules notified under this provision of the law. During the monitoring campaign, in 10% of the restaurants, youth activists found people smoking in the non-smoking area. Out of the three bars/ pubs visited, only one of them had the ‘No- Smoking’ signage as per the specifications. The hookah bar visited didn’t have signage placed at any location.

The youth activists were dishearten to observe the low level of compliance by the restaurants.

Aman, a 2nd year physiotherapy student at the Amity University, reflected: “It is sad to see that such a large number of restaurants are not complying with the law inspite of a Supreme Court ruling.”

Just a day prior to the hearing in Supreme Court to stay the implementation of the rules banning smoking in public places across India, HRIDAY – SHAN organised a field visit at Saket through youth of Amity International School to see whether the restaurants in the area are complying with the law. Eight students of Std. X along with their teacher, Ms Anju V Kumar and two SHAN ambassadors visited seven restaurants/ food joints in PVR complex. Only two of the restaurants had the “No- Smoking” signage as specified in the law. None of the restaurants had mentioned the name of the person to whom complaints regarding violations can be made.

HRIDAY- SHAN has been involved in providing health related awareness among youth since 1992. Environment has been an important theme of this health promoting package.

HRIDAY – SHAN developed an activity booklet and home team material booklet to introduce the issue of climate change and its adverse impact on human health in a comprehensive manner among the students of Std VIII (including the direct and indirect – immediate and long term impact of climate change) and the possible initiatives to mitigate its effect in collaboration with WHO- SEARO.

The intent was to create awareness among school students (10- 14 years) on issues related to climate change through innovative and interactive health education material and inculcate requisite advocacy skills among students to advocate for measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change at individual, household, community and policy levels. Also, it was intended to disseminate important messages related to climate change and its adverse effects on health, among the community.