IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF TOBACCO CONTROL LAWS IN COURT AREA: LAWYERS’ CONTEXT OF BANGLADESH

Smoking is the practice of burning tobacco and ingesting the smoke that is produced. Tobacco use among the Bangladeshi population remains a public health concern despite concerted efforts with the declared national tobacco control laws. This study aimed to delineate the status of the implementation status of Tobacco Control Laws in the court area and to identify its related predictors. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in south city corporations of Dhaka city. 350 samples were selected randomly from the registered lawyer's list which was collected from respective authorities. Data was collected by pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire through a face-to-face interview and analyzed by using SPSS software. Overall, the status of the implementation was poor 66% corresponding to a good 34%. Important predictors significantly found an association with the implementation: practicing duration department, family members, knowledge of health hazards, ‘NO SMOKING’ sign pasted in the court area. The study revealed a negative scenario regarding the implication of Tobacco Control Laws. Pivotal factors were significantly identified with the implication of tobacco control laws and implementation. Sustainable and effective implementation of laws are urgently needed to improve this scenario. The findings of this study highlight the critical need for strengthening and enforcing Tobacco Control Laws in court areas to reduce tobacco-related harm. Effective policy implementation can lead to significant public health benefits, including a reduction in smoking rates and tobacco-related illnesses. This research supports the continued development of regulatory measures to protect public health, particularly in vulnerable environments and populations.