Challenges and Solutions to Banning the Advertisement of Unhealthy Products: a Qualitative Study

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Oct 25

PMID 39448981

Authors

Marziyeh Najafi

Ali Mohammad Mosadeghrad

Mohammad Arab

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Unhealthy products (food, alcohol, tobacco) are among the main risk factors of non-communicable diseases. To discourage the consumption of these products, Iran has passed a law banning the advertisement of unhealthy products in all media and for all age groups. The purpose of the present study was to identify the challenges of this approach and provide evidence to facilitate the enforcement process and the participation of stakeholders. In this qualitative study participants were selected from the policymakers and experts involved in the banning of advertisements on unhealthy products in Iran. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 specialists and experts. The participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Identified challenges and solutions were divided into three categories and nine themes: external (political, social, and economic); interorganizational (mission and communication); and internal (planning, organization, leadership, and control). Banning the advertisement of unhealthy products involves many challenges due to the existence of key players with different roles and missions. If these challenges are not managed effectively, they will hinder the enforcement and success of this law. Therefore, it is necessary for policymakers and health system managers to take the necessary measures to remove these obstacles.

Citing Articles

Stakeholder analysis of banning unhealthy product advertisement in Iran.

Najafi M, Mosadeghrad A, Arab M BMC Health Serv Res. 2024; 24(1):1587.

PMID: 39695577 PMC: 11653548. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-12087-5.

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