Abstract
BackgroundEnvironmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure attributable respiratory illness burden is huge in paediatric population. Understanding the epidemiology of ETS exposure is important to guide health promotion planning. Therefore, we designed this study to determine the prevalence of household ETS exposure in healthy young children under 2 years of age in Hong Kong, and to explore risk factors associated with the exposure. Our secondary goal was to characterise children’s exposure profile to maternal smoking.MethodsA secondary analysis was performed based on the data collected from our 2013–2014 territory-wide cross-sectional pneumococcal carriage surveillance study, with a sample size of 1541. We conducted descriptive analysis for exposure prevalence, univariate and multivariate analysis for identification of risk factors.Results1541 children (mean age: 11.2 ± 6.4 months, male: 50.7%) were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of current household ETS exposure was 31.5%, prevalence of prenatal and postnatal maternal smoking was 3.5% and 1.6% respectively. Independent factors associated with children’s ETS exposure were: never breastfed (AOR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.13–1.93, p = 0.004); prenatal maternal smoking (AOR: 7.46, 95% CI: 2.73–20.39, p< 0.001); overcrowding of household living place (AOR: 3.17, 95% CI: 2.02–4.96, P< 0.001); lower household income (AOR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.04–1.72, p = 0.02). Interestingly, children residing in Kowloon (AOR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.19–2.33, p = 0.003) and New Territories West (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.11–2.15, p = 0.01) were associated with exposure compared with children residing in Hong Kong Island.ConclusionExposure to household ETS is prevalent among Hong Kong young children, particularly in children with maternal unfavourable behaviour and lower socioeconomic status. The identified risk factors should be considered while tobacco control interventions and legislations are planned.
Highlights
environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is defined as tobacco smoke produced by an active smoker both from the exhalation of smoked tobacco and by the burning end of the cigarette, which is inhaled by non-smokers.[1]
We designed this study to determine the prevalence of household ETS exposure in healthy young children under 2 years of age in Hong Kong, and to explore risk factors associated with the exposure
Children residing in Kowloon (AOR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.19–2.33, p = 0.003) and New Territories West (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.11–2.15, p = 0.01) were associated with exposure compared with children residing in Hong Kong Island
Summary
ETS is defined as tobacco smoke produced by an active smoker both from the exhalation of smoked tobacco and by the burning end of the cigarette, which is inhaled by non-smokers.[1]. The prevalence of ETS exposure in children was 40% in year 2004.[4] In Hong Kong, the prevalence was quite similar.[6] For young children and infants, the information is relatively scarce. According to a recent meta-analysis of the impact of public smoking bans on children’s household ETS exposure, majority of the included studies reported a decrease in the post-legislation exposure prevalence, while two studies including one Hong Kong study reported an increase.[8] Ho S. et al indicated that comprehensive smoke-free legislation without strong support for smoking cessation might have displaced smoking into the homes of school-aged children.[9] the condition of young children remained unknown. We designed this study to determine the prevalence of household ETS exposure in healthy young children under 2 years of age in Hong Kong, and to explore risk factors associated with the exposure. Our secondary goal was to characterise children’s exposure profile to maternal smoking
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