BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Salaam Mumbai Foundation’s rural outreach program, launched in 2007, uses a "train the trainer" model to engage rural influencers such as teachers, health workers, and community leaders in tobacco control. Trained youth leaders, equipped with life skills and tobacco control knowledge, lead initiatives through platforms like ‘Balpanchayat,’ where they share experiences with policymakers. A survey was conducted to document the effective strategies and challenges in tobacco control.
The study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of young leaders with respect to strategies employed and challenges faced in conducting tobacco control activities among peers, families, communities, local neighbourhoods and tobacco vendors
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: A structured questionnaire was administered to 262 trained youth leaders to gather data on the various strategies used and challenges in tobacco control initiatives for various stakeholders.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: Key tobacco control strategies included educational sessions (68%), counselling (44%), and peer support groups (19%). Major challenges faced by youth leaders included peer and family resistance (62%), gender (27%), and lack of trained professionals (33%). Social influences like peer pressure (51%), media glamorization (43%), and stress relief (68%) were cited as key drivers for tobacco use. However, 60% of leaders emphasized strong community support, awareness of health risks, and personal willpower in keeping individuals tobacco-free. Additionally, 69% of leaders identified tobacco vendors near schools, and 93% successfully convinced at least one vendor to stop selling tobacco. Challenges in convincing vendors included resistance, lack of awareness, and profit motives, yet 40% of approached vendors were willing to cease tobacco sales.
CONCLUSIONS: The research underscores the vital role of young leaders in tobacco cessation efforts, offering insights into effective strategies and the challenges they face in promoting tobacco-free behavior in various stakeholders