Retos para la prevención y el control del consumo de tabaco y sus derivados en mujeres en Antioquia, Colombia.

Introduction. The consumption of products derived from tobacco is one of the principal causes of preventable death, and the gap in consumption between men and women is getting smaller and smaller. Objective. Describe the strengths and/or limitations of the implementation of programs directed at the prevention and control of consumption of tobacco products by women in Antioquia, Colombia. Methods. Qualitative research, through 30 semi-structured interviews applied in the Department's nine sub-regions. The categories of analysis were built around the continuum for the control of tobacco (prevention, cessation, secondhand smoke, and public policies). Content analysis was used for the results. Results. Antioquia has barriers to the effective application of programs for the prevention, control and cessation of tobacco consumption, such as lack of funding, greater focus on programs related to psychoactive substances, tobacco industry marketing, limitations in health benefits plans to access the treatment, and little articulation between the health sector and education, culture, sports and community actors. In addition, there is little awareness, diffusion, or enforcement of Law 1335. Participants report not knowing about strategies differentiated by gender. Conclusion. In the continuum for the control of tobacco, there are different factors that constitute limits for the establishment and development of new programs for the prevention and control of tobacco consumption by women in Antioquia. In addition, a differential gender focus was not found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]