| Specific Detail Info |
Objectives: To determine what variables influence the
implementation of the Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control (FCTC) in small island developing
states of the Pacific and how they affect its success or
failure. To explore how barriers can be overcome and
opportunities utilised to ensure an effective FCTC
implementation in the Pacific Islands.
Design: A mixed methods, multiple case study
consisting of primarily qualitative data in the form of
semistructured interviews, document analysis and
opportunistic observation.
Setting: Field visits were undertaken to collect data in
the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Palau and Nauru. The key
informants were interviewed in the major cities or
islands of each respective country: Rarotonga, Port
Vila, Koror and Nauru.
Participants: Purposive sampling was used to select
39 informants, whose roles were associated with FCTC
implementation. Most of the participants worked in
health-oriented positions in the government and nongovernment
organisations.
Results: Each country made a significant progress
towards FCTC implementation. Overall, strong policy
content, public support and limited pro-tobacco
coalition activity were conducive to FCTC
implementation, but the challenges were evident in the
form of limited capacity, limited antitobacco coalition
activity and limited political commitment outside the
ministries of health in each country.
Conclusions: Further efforts are needed for full FCTC
implementation, through building capacity and using
resources effectively, growing commitment to FCTC
beyond the health sector, fostering growth in
antitobacco coalition activity, exploiting the limited protobacco
activity that may be present and garnering
public support for tobacco control. These lessons may
be particularly important for other small island
developing states in the Pacific and developing
countries elsewhere. |
