Abstract
This study aims to examine the prevalence of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in homes among socially-disadvantaged populations in Poland, along with the prevalence and correlates of voluntary implementation of smoke-free home rules. Data concerning 1617 respondents from a cross-sectional study completed in the Piotrkowski District were used, which was part of the “Reducing Social Inequalities in Health” program. Overall, 19.4% of the respondents declared exposure to ETS at home. In the non-smokers group, 15.5%, including 6.6% males and 18.3% females, were exposed to ETS in their place of residence (p < 0.0001). Complete smoke-free rules were adopted by 22.1% of the study participants. Two factors, smoker status and lack of ETS-associated health risk awareness, were found to be significantly associated with no adoption of total smoking bans at home. Socially-disadvantaged non-smokers, especially females from rural areas in Poland, still constitute a large population exposed to ETS in their homes—a challenge from the perspective of public health. Focused efforts are required to address social norms around exposing others to ETS.
Highlights
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) contains more than 7000 harmful chemicals, a combination of which makes it highly toxic, resulting in cancer in humans [1,2]
One must not forget that tobacco contributes to poverty through the cost of tobacco-related illness, including ETS-related harm, loss of a family breadwinner, and the impact on family finances and stress. [17,42]. With all of these concerns in mind, this study aimed to examine the prevalence of exposure to ETS in homes among socially-disadvantaged subpopulations in Poland, along with the prevalence and the factors associated with voluntary implementation of smoke-free rules at home
Country dwellers, in general, spend more time outdoors/outside of the covered premises to carry out work associated with running a household or farm, or performing a job which is mostly related to agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, etc., which do not set any physical limits to smoking
Summary
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) contains more than 7000 harmful chemicals, a combination of which makes it highly toxic, resulting in cancer in humans [1,2]. Exposure to ETS causes death, disease, and disability [3,4,5]. It is estimated that ETS exposure contributes to about 1% of the total global disease burden, and represents approximately 10%–15% of the disease burden caused by active smoking [10]. It is estimated that 10% of the total tobacco-related economic costs are attributable to ETS exposure [16]. The disadvantaged groups are bearing a disproportionate share of the harm caused by tobacco, including higher rates of death and disease from tobacco-related illnesses [17,18]
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