Quantitative comparison of WHO tobacco control measures: lessons from the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

BACKGROUND: In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a package of measures including 6 main policies (MPOWER) to control tobacco use. AIMS: This study aimed to perform a quantitative analysis of MPOWER in the WHO regions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected information in summer 2018 using pages 136-149 of the 2017 MPOWER report and a validated check list with 10 criteria, with a possible maximum score of 37. The scores were summed and presented in descending order for the 6 WHO regions. RESULTS: The highest mean score was recorded by the European Region (26.41), followed by: South-East Asia Region (25), Western Pacific Region (24.88), Region of the Americas (22.05), Eastern Mediterranean Region (21.40) and African Region (17.40). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the means. CONCLUSIONS: Although many efforts have been made in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, many challenges to policy implementation and enforcement remain compared with other regions, and require urgent action by governments in the Region.