Background

Aim
Generate evidence to support governments in LMICs to make informed policy decisions about the public health response in general and tobacco control interventions in particular, in the context of COVID-19 or other future infectious disease epidemics that affect respiratory health.
Objectives
Examine the relationship between COVID-19 and tobacco use Explore how efforts to address COVID-19 or other future infectious disease epidemics can be integrated with tobacco control policies and interventions Investigate the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its response on the mental health, physical health and quality of life of smokers and their families in Pakistan and India
Outputs and Impact
Provide information to policy makers, professionals and civil society groups in LMICs about the links between COVID-19 and tobacco use in terms of smoking as a risk factor for developing COVID-19 and any relationships between the extent and severity of symptoms, treatment outcomes, survival and post infectious sequela Communicate this information through policy briefings that can be used in LMICs to inform public information, and risk communication to tobacco users their families and relevant organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic or future infectious disease epidemics that affect respiratory health Provide evidence that can be used by public health professionals to make the case for maintaining or strengthening tobacco control policies and interventions as part of an integrated approach to addressing infectious disease epidemics such as COVID-19 In Pakistan and India, generate broader evidence about the impact of COVID-19 and the measures taken to address it on smokers and their families that can inform health care, social support and policy responses to the pandemic. Contribute to emerging international debates about the implications of COVID-19 for tobacco control and NCD agendas.
Further details
Partners
School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh ARK Foundation, Bangladesh Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana HRIDAY, Delhi, India Public Health Foundation of India The Initiative, Pakistan Makarere School of Public Health, Makarere University, Uganda Department of Health Sciences, University of York
Key People
Prof Linda Bauld, Principal Investigator, University of Edinburgh* Dr Fiona Davidson, Research Manager, University of Edinburgh Prof Jeff Collin, Co-investigator, University of Edinburgh* Dr Fiona Dobbie, Co-investigator, University of Edinburgh Dr Rob Ralston, Co-Investigator, University of Edinburgh , CDr Rumana Huque ountry Principal Investigator, ARK Foundation, Bangladesh Dr Monika Arora, Country Co-Principal Investigator, HRIDAY, India - Dr Amina Khan,
Country Co-Principal Investigator, The Initiative, Pakistan Kellen Nyamurungi, Country Principal Investigator, Makarere School of Public Health, Makarere University, Uganda Prof Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Country Principal Investigator, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana Prof Wakgari Deressa, Country Principal Investigator, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia Dr Lion Shahab, Institute of Epidemiology and Health, University College London* Prof Jamie Brown, Institute of Epidemiology and Health, University College London*
*SPECTRUM Members
Funder
Links and information
Survey overview - http://theinitiative.org.pk/covid-19-tobacco-survey/ Research wave 1 - http://theinitiative.org.pk/covid/ Research wave 2 - http://theinitiative.org.pk/covid/wave-2/