Smoking: A Biopsychosocial Perspective

Introduction

West (2017) defined tobacco smoking as smoking that consists of drawing into the mouth, and usually the lungs, smoke from burning tobacco. About 4 million people die each year from tobacco smoking related conditions, with the number projected to reach 10 million by the year 2030 (Amakali, Haoses-Gorases, & Taukuheke, 2013). The use of tobacco, challenges associated with addictions and morbidity trajectory have moved from being the challenges of developed countries to that of low and middle income countries, similar to tobacco marketing efforts. Sub-sahara Africa is relatively new to dealing with the challenges associated with tobacco epidemic. The consumption of tobacco products in Sub-sahara Africa is estimated to record the highest growth in the world (Siddiqi, 2019). Smoking habits are believed to be associated with an increased global morbidity which are non-communicable diseases related (Naikaku, 2018).

In an effort to control smoking, Namibia signed a Convention for Tobbacco Control (CFTC) in 2010 and enacted a Tobacco Control Act, nearly 20 years after independence without a piece of legislature that prohibit public smoking, adverstising and sales of tobacco products (Tam & Van Walbeek, 2013). The legislative on tobacco control is seen as a tool to control the use of tobacco, particulary in youth population.

This chapter will discuss the factors contributing to smoking, dangers, challenges and strategies to quiting smoking and the effects of smoking on the body.

Background

Namibia is classified as a middle income country with peaceful political environment that has attracted many investors to compete for investment opportunities. However, the world economic down turn has also negatively affect the country with youth unployment rate standing at 46.1% (Trading Econmics, 2019). Amid to economic challenges, tobacco companies continue to take advantage of weak tobacco control legislations in Namibia to aggressively promote tobacco products underthe presence of creating jobs opportunities. Namibian Cambinet has approved acontrovential tobacco plantation in Zambezi region, on the Eastern part of the country, despite the call from the affected communities, civil societies, some governmental and non-governmental organizations who had objected the approval of the environmental clearance in 2014. The project is seen to be a health hazard and inconflict with its’ 2005 WHO ratification framework on tobacco control in Namibia (Kahiurika, 2019). According World Health Organization's Global Tobacco Survey of 2011, it was discovered that children in Namibia starts smoking as young as nine, with about 16% of children smoking cigarette. With the youth currently making up 60% of the Namibian population, it is estimated that about 50% of youth in Namibia smoke cigarettes (Amakali et al., 2013). In India about 28.6% of children were smoking cigarettes in 2016 (Thomas, 2018). In South Africa the use of tobacco use among adolescent stood at 44%, while adults stood at 17.6% (Reddy, Zuma, Shisana, Jonas, & Sewpaul, 2015; Morojele, Brook, & Brook, 2016). To curb the prevalence of smoking-related mortality, Namibia has added legislative measures to the 1997 smoking ban through the Tobacco Product Control Act, Act No.1 of 2010. In terms of the Act, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) enforces standards for the manufacturing, advertising, promotion, sponsorship, packaging and labelling of cigarettes and the restriction of smoking in public places, while simultaneously promoting campaigns targeted towards stopping smoking".. As a result of the dependence causing agent, e.g. nicotine, most smokers in Namibia are likely to face challenges associated with quitting smoking, owing to accessibility tobacco products and the lack of critical information relevant to cessation. Although Namibia implemented the tobacco control act, most people continue to disregard the use of tobacco products on free zones, hence the increase in exposure to tobacco products in general. This chapter discusses critical issues that peer educators must consider in supporting smoking cessation campaigns at schools in the country.