Smoke-Free Home Rules and Association with Child Secondhand Smoke Exposure among Mother-Child Dyad Relationships.

Westley L Fallavollita,Susan K Murphy,Scott H Kollins,Rachel L Maguire,Julia C Schechter,Cathrine Hoyo,Bernard F Fuemmeler,Jian Qin,Elizabeth K Do,Junfeng Jim Zheng

doi:10.3390/ijerph18105256

Abstract

Smoke-free home rules restrict smoking in the home, but biomarkers of secondhand smoke exposure are needed to help understand the association between smoke-free homes and child secondhand smoke exposure. Participants (n = 346) were majority Black/African American mother–child dyads from a longitudinal study in North Carolina. Mothers completed questionnaires on household smoking behaviors and rules, and child saliva samples were assayed for secondhand smoke exposure. Regression models used smoke-free home rules to predict child risk for secondhand smoke exposure. Children in households with smoke-free home rules had less salivary cotinine and risk for secondhand smoke exposure. After controlling for smokers in the household, home smoking rules were not a significant predictor of secondhand smoke exposure. Compared to children in households with no smokers, children in households with at least one smoker but a non-smoking mother (OR 5.35, 95% CI: 2.22, 13.17) and households with at least one smoker including a smoking mother (OR 13.73, 95% CI: 6.06, 33.28) had greater risk for secondhand smoke exposure. Results suggest smoke-free home rules are not sufficient to fully protect children from secondhand smoke exposure, especially in homes with smokers. Future research should focus on how household members who smoke can facilitate the prevention of child secondhand smoke exposure.

Highlights

Introduction14 million children ages 3–11 years old are exposed to secondhand smoke in the U.S each year [1]
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between smoke-free home rules and child secondhand smoke exposure among an understudied population [8]—a community sample of primarily Black/African American mother–child dyads living in
Smoke-free home rules were associated with lower levels of salivary cotinine, but not with a reduced risk for secondhand smoke exposure in households with smokers

Summary

Introduction

14 million children ages 3–11 years old are exposed to secondhand smoke in the U.S each year [1]. Children are uniquely vulnerable to secondhand smoke exposure because they do not have control over their environment and spend most of their time at home [2]. Child secondhand smoke exposure has been causally linked to health consequences including middle ear disease, respiratory symptoms, impaired lung function, lower respiratory illness, and sudden infant death syndrome [3]. Secondhand smoke exposure during childhood is associated with behavioral problems including poor academic achievement [4] and increased likelihood of cigarette initiation in adolescence [5]

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion