Clean indoor air in El Paso, Texas: a case study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Health Initiatives
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• Secondhand smoke exposure is a preventable cause of illness and death.
• El Paso, Texas, a large, diverse, and economically challenged border city, faced significant public health concerns.
• A coalition aimed to protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke in public spaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a community-led campaign to implement a smoke-free ordinance in El Paso.
• To assess public support and changes in smoking prevalence following the ordinance's enactment.
• To provide a transferable model for grassroots public health advocacy in diverse communities.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive campaign involving media advocacy, community outreach, petitioning, and political engagement.
• Implementation of a smoke-free ordinance in public places.
• Post-ordinance surveys to gauge public opinion and smoking rates.

Main Results:

• The smoke-free ordinance was successfully passed and implemented.
• An opinion poll one month after implementation showed solid public support.
• A subsequent survey indicated a significant decline in adult smoking prevalence from 22.1% to 17.3%.

Conclusions:

• The El Paso campaign exemplifies a successful grassroots public health initiative.
• The campaign's reliance on direct organizing and community mobilization offers valuable lessons for other communities.
• The El Paso coalition serves as a model for building diverse, representative coalitions, particularly in Hispanic/Latino communities.