FRESHAIR4Life update: Romania

In October 2023, the first field trip for the situational analysis for the FRESHAIR4Life project took place in Kyrgyzstan. Eight months later, after visiting Pakistan, Greece, and Uganda, the final day of fieldwork has been completed in the last country: Romania.

Brașov, beautifully nestled in the Carpathian mountain ranges, was the focus this time. In the first two days, the Romanian FRESHAIR4Life team was trained, after which a dedicated, smaller, and diverse team of six researchers, comprised of both Romanian and Dutch members, set out to collect qualitative data.

The team engaged with 100 participants through interviews, focus group discussions, and Photovoice activities, gaining deep insights into Romanian beliefs, perceptions, and behaviours regarding tobacco use and air pollution. Participants expressed both pride and concern about Brașov being known as ‘the Green City of Romania.’ We received honest insights from smoking adolescents and appreciated the openness of teachers, healthcare workers, politicians, and other stakeholders, who willingly shared their solutions, insights, and desire for collaboration.

As Brașov is a young, progressive city with a vibrant student population, we spoke to university students from various academic backgrounds. We also visited nearby Roma communities, who warmly welcomed us and provided a different but equally important perspective on pressing health issues in Romania.

Three weeks of fieldwork culminated in a Photovoice exhibition at the Transylvanian University, enthusiastically received by attendees. This exhibition, held on the last day of fieldwork, May 31, coincided wonderfully with World No Tobacco Day.

IPCRG's 8th Scientific Meeting will be held in Brașov. Attendees can look forward to experiencing a charming city surrounded by green forests and mountains, and, more importantly, to being welcomed by a warm-hearted, kind, and highly motivated Romanian team that will make you feel right at home.