Smoking prevention and cessation: a program in the region of Setif, Algeria (2001–2006)

Tobacco smoking and its consequences are one of the major health problems in all regions of the world, regardless of their level of development. The extent of this problem has considerably grown over the last decade. As demand decreases in developed countries, tobacco industries target low- or middle-income developing countries and promote their products with an expected increase in consumption. In Algeria some 30,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed each year; the number of cases increased by 50% between 1986 and 2000. Tobacco prevalence was 43 in male and 6 in female. 50% of smokers are under 27 years. Awareness campaigns during “World no tobacco day”, followed by information caravans, motivated some smokers to ask for help to quit smoking. But then, these people used all sorts of products in unstructured ways, because medicines and cessation techniques in Algeria are still not well known and there is no national global policy on these issues. Responding to this need, the University hospital and the University of Setif, in collaboration with Epidaure-CRLC (Montpellier, France), the committee for French-speaking countries of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and the French League against cancer implemented a tobacco-smoking prevention and cessation program in the region of Setif. The objective is to promote prevention and cessation of tobacco in Setif area. The main activities are press campaigns, health formation, communication, information education, and cessation. The results after 2 years show new needs in communication. Heath authorities are favorable to develop this project in all areas in the country. There are some problems in medical, cultural, and economic concepts.