BACKGROUND: The presence of policies does not alone guarantee a smoke-free environment. While policies are crucial, their implementation and more importantly, the effectiveness of compliance to them remain a challenge. This is the first research study in the Philippines that looks into the variations in the Local Government Unit's policies to determine effectiveness of enforcement of smoke-free policies through the evaluation of compliance and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke using standardized questionnaires in government, food establishments, and transport terminals.
METHODS: The study employs a cross-sectional design, utilizing observational checklists and structured questionnaires to evaluate adherence to smoke-free regulations in government offices, food establishments, and transportation terminals. Data were analyzed based on 1. Effectiveness of Policy measures using a compliance tool and environmental tobacco smoke 2. Stringency Score using adaptiveness to FCTC, presence of structure, funding, and products regulated.
RESULTS: Policies restricting smoking in public indoor areas like workplaces, food establishments and transportation terminals are increasing in more municipalities in Benguet Province and Baguio City. Results indicate that while overall compliance exceeds 60%, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure remains alarmingly high in homes, particularly in La Trinidad and Baguio City, where exposure rates are reported at 100% and 95.7%, respectively. The findings affirm that stricter smoke-free policies correlate with lower ETS exposure in public spaces, yet highlight the urgent need to extend these protections to residential environments.
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that smoke-free policies in local government units varies in stringency specifically how these policies are financed, enforced, what products (Cigarette, Electronic Smoking Devices, Chewed tobacco) were regulated. This research provides vital insights for policymakers, emphasizing the necessity of enhancing smoke-free policies to effectively mitigate tobacco smoke exposure and protect public health. Recommendations include expanding the scope of smoke-free legislation to encompass homes and explore other areas ​for future studies to better understand compliance dynamics.