Health promotion and tobacco control: a transatlantic perspective between Brazil and Portugal

Resumo

Health promotion, a concept based on the Ottawa Charter, recognizes that health is influenced by economic, social and environmental factors, as well as individual practices. The fight against smoking is one of the most challenging fronts in this context, given its direct relationship with the global burden of chronic diseases and preventable deaths. The articulation of public policies that involve multiple sectors and civil society has proved fundamental in dealing with this problem. In both Brazil and Portugal, health promotion plays a crucial role in integrating tobacco prevention and control actions, reflecting the guidelines of Canada's Population Health Promotion Model.

This Canadian model highlights the intersection between health, public policies and community action, emphasizing the need for healthy environments and structural interventions that shape behaviour. The influence of this paradigm is evident in global policies, including those adopted in Brazil and Portugal. It offers a theoretical framework that guides governments to create evidence-based strategies that are sensitive to cultural and social particularities. In Brazil, the National Health Promotion Policy (Política Nacional de Promoção da Saúde, PNPS) translates these principles into concrete actions, whereas in Portugal, the National Program for the Prevention and Control of Smoking reflects a progressive normative approach, especially in relation to tobacco consumption and electronic devices.

Brazil and Portugal have different histories and cultural dynamics, but they share similar challenges in tackling smoking. In Brazil, robust policies have contributed to a significant reduction in the prevalence of adult smokers, from 34.8% in 1989 to 12.6% in 2019⁽¹⁾. These achievements are the result of educational campaigns, tax increases and the creation of smoke-free environments. In Portugal, legislative efforts, such as the Tobacco Law (Law No. 37/2007), have significantly limited smoking in public places and restricted advertising, but the country still faces worrying rates, with 17% of the population identified as smokers in 2019⁽²⁾.

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