title: Smoking cessation medications and cigarettes in Guatemala pharmacies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Guatemala, a party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), is obliged to promote the wider availability of smoking cessation treatment and to restrict tobacco advertising. Pharmacies are fundamental in providing smoking cessation medications but also might increase the availability of cigarettes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess availability of cessation medications and cigarettes and their corresponding advertising in Guatemala pharmacies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Guatemala City a representative sample was selected from a list of registered pharmacies classified by type (non-profit, chain, independent). In addition, all pharmacies in the neighbouring town of Antigua were included for comparison. Trained surveyors used a checklist to characterise each pharmacy with respect to availability and advertising of cessation medications and cigarettes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 505 pharmacies were evaluated. Cessation medications were available in 115 (22.8%), while cigarettes were available in 29 (5.7%) pharmacies. When available, medications were advertised in 1.7% (2) and cigarettes in 72.4% (21) of pharmacies. Chain pharmacies were significantly more likely to sell cessation medications and cigarettes, and to advertise cigarettes than were non-profit and independent pharmacies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most pharmacies in Guatemala do not stock cessation medications or cigarettes. Cigarette advertising was more prevalent than advertising for cessation medications. FCTC provisions have not been implemented in Guatemala pharmacies.
authors: Department of Research, Cardiovascular Unit of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala. jbarnoya@post.harvard.edu
authors: Ernesto
authors: E
authors: Viteri
authors: Joaquin
authors: J
authors: Barnoya
authors: Karen Suchanek
authors: KS
authors: Hudmon
authors: Pedro J
authors: PJ
authors: Solorzano
mesh_terms: D000329:Advertising; D002947:Cities; D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010594:Pharmacies; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D062789:Tobacco Products
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations