@article{Mahoto_Mitonga_Oladimeji_2023, title={Barriers to the provision of smoking cessation intervention/services: A mixed-methods study among health care workers in Zambezi region, Namibia}, volume={14}, url={https://publichealthinafrica.org/jphia/article/view/1992}, DOI={10.4081/jphia.2023.1992}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Background</strong>. Healthcare workers (HCWs) can play a signifi- cant role in tobacco prevention by delivering smoking cessation (SC) interventions to patients who smoke.</p> <p><strong>Objective</strong>: To identify and explore the perceived barriers which prevent healthcare workers from delivering SC counselling to patients in Zambezi region, Namibia.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong>: A regional-based, concurrent mixed-methods study was conducted between March and October 2020 among HCWs of the 8 constituencies of Zambezi region, Namibia. In the study, 129 respondents, who had been residents of the selected constituencies for over 5 years and aged between 17 to 60 years, participated.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>: 129 respondents participated in the study. Majority of respondents were females (62.9% and 68.1%) compared to (37.1% and 31.9%) males. The mean age of respondents was 35.91 (SD=9.3) and 36.61 (SD=8.7) respectively and their ages ranged between 18 and 59 years. Key barriers were identified: (i) HCWs- based barriers included lack of time to provide SC, inadequate training and insufficient knowledge on SC interventions; (ii) sys- tem-based barriers identified lack of SC guidelines and educational materials for patients, and specialists to refer patients; and (iii) patient/client-based barriers included lack of patient interest in SC information, patients not adhering to advise given on SC.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: This study showed that SC delivery in Zambezi region is inadequate. Barriers were identified regarding the deliv- ery of SC intervention for the first time. Targeted SC interventions are required to combat these identified specific barriers. There is a crucial need to improve HCWs skills and knowledge in providing SC intervention.</p>}, number={2}, journal={Journal of Public Health in Africa}, author={Mahoto, Sylvia K. and Mitonga, Honore K. and Oladimeji, Olanrewaju}, year={2023}, month={Mar.} }