RESUMO
BACKGROUND: We aim to assess the effect of a smoke-free beaches (SFB) intervention in Barcelona on smoking during the 2021 bathing season. METHODS: Quasi-experimental pre-post design (pre-intervention period: 15-28 May; post-intervention period: 29 May-12 September). Based on users' profiles and location, four beaches were assigned to the intervention group (IG) and five to the comparison group (CG). The intervention involved: a mayoral decree (29 May), a communication campaign and beach on-site information. We established two 3 m × 3 m transects per beach from the coastline to the promenade. Trained teams collected smoking-related information in the transects through observations and surveys to beach users. Outcomes are as follows: percentage of people reporting witnessing smoking behaviours the last fortnight and percentage of people observed smoking. We calculated and compared prevalence ratios (PRs) with adjusted Poisson regressions. RESULTS: 3751 interviews (1721 IG; 2030 CG) and 1108 observations (498 IG, 610 CG) were carried out. SFB were associated with a significant reduction in the percentage of people reporting witnessing smoking (IG (pre: 87.2%; post: 49.7%); CG (pre: 86.2%; post: 74.1%); PR (95% CI): 0.7 (0.6 to 0.8)); and in the users observed smoking in the beach (IG (pre: 3.8%; post: 3.0%); CG (pre: 2.3%; post: 9.9%); PR (95% CI): 0.3 (0.3 to 0.4)). Satisfaction scores were 8.3 (IG) and 8.1 (CG) out of 10. CONCLUSION: An SFB intervention is an effective and well-accepted measure to reduce smoking and smokers' visibility. Smoke-free measures should be extended to beaches and other non-regulated outdoor areas.
RESUMO
Este artículo pretende compartir las reflexiones sobre la acción comunitaria en que la Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona ha estado involucrada en la emergencia de COVID-19. El trabajo realizado puede ordenarse en tres etapas, frecuentemente solapadas: detectar necesidades o problemas, e informar; contactar con las personas participantes y agentes territoriales para valorar qué hacer y cómo hacerlo; y adaptar las intervenciones a la "nueva normalidad" y generar respuestas con los activos comunitarios a las necesidades detectadas. Los problemas emergentes incluyeron: no poder realizar el confinamiento (por falta de casa, condiciones materiales, vivir en situación de violencia); brecha digital (falta de conocimientos, dispositivos, acceso a Wifi); mayor exposición al COVID-19 en los trabajos esenciales pero precarizados, feminizados y racializados (cuidados, limpieza, alimentación), frecuentes en los barrios en que trabajamos; barreras idiomáticas y culturales para seguir las recomendaciones; pérdida de empleo; ingresos insuficientes para cubrir necesidades básicas; dificultades de conciliación; aislamiento social; y deterioro de la salud emocional provocado por la situación. Durante el proceso, algunas intervenciones se adaptaron para continuar de forma telemática, y se intentaron cubrir las necesidades primarias sobre conocimientos y dispositivos de algunas personas participantes a través de las redes solidarias y recursos existentes. La acción comunitaria en salud, desde una mirada crítica, interseccional y local, mediante trabajo intersectorial y la participación de la comunidad, puede contribuir a: facilitar una respuesta adaptada al contexto en caso de crisis sanitaria y mitigar los efectos derivados de esta crisis económica y social
This paper aims to share the reflections related to the community actions in which the Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona has been involved during the emergency of COVID-19. The tasks carried out can be arranged in three stages, frequently overlapping: detection of needs and problems; contact with key stakeholders to assess what to do and how to do it; adaptation of the interventions to the "new normal" and generation of new responses. The emerging problems included: not being able to do the confinement (due to homelessness, material conditions, living in a situation of violence); digital gap (lack of knowledge, devices, access to Wifi); greater exposure to COVID-19 in the essential but precarious, feminized and racialized jobs (care, cleaning, food shops) that are the most frequent in the neighborhoods in where we work; language and cultural barriers that preclude to follow recommendations; to lose employment; insufficient income to cover basic needs; social isolation; and the deterioration of emotional health caused by the situation. During the process, some interventions were adapted to be delivered on-line. Solidarity networks and local resources were key to meet basic needs, but also other needs related to lack of digital knowledge or device. Community action in health, from a critical, intersectional and local perspective, and with intersectoral work and community participation, can contribute to: facilitate a contextualized response in the event of a health crisis; mitigate the effects derived from its economic and social crisis
