Alliance One Tobacco (Malawi)

Abstract Background: The study was conducted to project challenges and benefits that may affect the availability and accessibility of snus in Malawi, focusing on the three districts of Mchinji, Rumphi and Balaka.Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design which consisted of both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The rationale for using the qualitative approach was to meet people’s smoking and quitting experience, attitude and perceptions. The quantitative approach was used to quantify the information related factors that can affect the availability, accessibility and consumption of snus in the country. The Study population comprised of ex-smokers and current smokers within the age range of 15-54 targeting a randomly selected sample size of 100. The data were collected through direct interviews using semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed to generate simple descriptive statistics in a form of frequencies, means and percentages.Results: The results of the study have indicated that there is high unsuccessful quitting attempts rate. Out of the 68.0% of respondents who attempted to quitting smoking, only 6.0% managed to quit smoking with the remaining 62.0% getting back to smoking citing stress, nicotine craving and lack of alternative to nicotine consumption apart from combustible cigarette as some leading factors to unsuccessful quitting attempts. The results of the study have revealed lack of political willingness and commitment, taxation and lack of policies and regulations as some of the factors that may negatively affect the availability and accessibility of snus in the country.Conclusion: The use snus as a harm reduction product can be of greater importance in helping to reduce cases of non-communicable infections as a safer means of switching and quitting smoking as evidenced in Pakistan , with regards to the socio-economic status of most rural based combustible cigarette consumers, snus tends to provide a better option for switching to safer nicotine as it is cheaper hence quite affordable by the majority which may directly contribute to a significant decline in combustible cigarette use hence improving the health wellbeing of individuals who have opted to switch thereby attaining the Sustainable Development Goal 3.