Level of empowerment for tobacco control in a rural low-income district in Sri Lanka

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Health is determined by a range of factors and health promotion incorporates enabling individuals and communities to have control over determinants of their health. Tobacco, a well-established determinant of ill-health, is portrayed as a factor that is difficult to be controlled Psychological empowerment for tobacco control encompasses an individual's sense of control over tobacco related issues, the foundation for strengthening community actions against tobacco. This study aimed to describe the psychological empowerment for tobacco control in Monaragla District.METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. Psychological empowerment was operationalized based on Zimmerman's definition into a 27 item scale under intrapersonal, interactional and behavioural domains. developed via a modified Delphi technique was validated for the local context. The interviewer administered tool assessed participants recruited via a multi-stage cluster sampling technique using a household (N=1160) survey RESULTS: Response rate was 98 6% (n=l 144). the majority (92 1 %; n=l054), felt they have a responsibility to participate in tobacco control even though only 21.9% (n=251) has ever participated in such activities at least once in their lifetime. Perceived mastery, motivation, competence, awareness and efficacy for tobacco control among participants were satisfactory. Interactional domain, assessing participants' preparedness to act, received the highest scores (M=23 5; SD=5 9) among all the domains.CONCLUSION: Perceived mastery, motivation, competence, awareness and efficacy for tobacco control were satisfactory. However, level of action did not match the levels of intrapersonal and interactional domains that reflect preparedness to act. Unused potential for tobacco control exists among the community to act against tobacco.