Smoke-Free Workplaces Are Associated with Protection from Second-Hand Smoke at Homes in Nigeria: Evidence for Population-Level Decisions.

Dorota Kaleta,Kinga Polanska,Bukola Usidame

doi:10.1155/2015/618640

Dorota Kaleta, Kinga Polanska + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/618640

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Abstract

The evidence suggests that smoke-free workplace policies may change social norms towards exposing others to second-hand smoke at home. The aim of the study was to assess whether being employed in a smoke-free workplace (SFWP) is associated with living in a smoke-free home (SFH). We used the data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted in Nigeria in 2012, in which 9,765 individuals were interviewed including 1,856 persons who worked indoors. The percentage of Nigerians employed in SFWP that reported living in a SFH was higher compared to those employed in a workplace where smoking occurred (95% versus 73%). Working in a SFWP was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of living in a SFH (OR = 5.3; p < 0.001). Urban inhabitants indicated more frequently that they lived in SFH compared to rural residents (OR = 2.0; p = 0.006). The odds of living in a SFH were significantly higher among nonsmokers and nonsmokeless tobacco users compared to smokers and smokeless tobacco users (OR = 28.8; p < 0.001; OR = 7.0; p < 0.001). These findings support the need for implementation of comprehensive smoke-free policies in Nigeria that result in substantial health benefits.

Highlights

Taking into account the level of exposure and its health consequences, tobacco smoking and second-hand smoke (SHS) constitute one of the biggest public health threats [1,2,3,4]
Significant reduction in smoking at home after implementation of comprehensive smokefree policies has been observed in Ireland and in the UK [29]. Another evaluation by Edwards et al (2008) has indicated that, in New Zealand between 2003 and 2006, SHS exposure in workplaces decreased from 20% to 8% and proportion of smoke-free homes increased from 64% to 70% [30]. These results provide evidence against arguments that smoke-free legislation may displace smoking from public to private places and can be used as the tool for implementing 100% smoke-free public places in Nigeria
Our results show that there is a higher chance of having smoke-free homes in the North West compared to the North Central region of Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

Taking into account the level of exposure and its health consequences, tobacco smoking and second-hand smoke (SHS) constitute one of the biggest public health threats [1,2,3,4]. According to the most recent data, about 40% of children and a third of nonsmoking adults are exposed to SHS [1, 5]. The estimates of worldwide burden of a disease indicated that approximately 600,000 deaths were attributed to SHS with 47% of deaths occurring in women, 28% in children, and 26% in men [5]. In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified six evidence-based tobacco control measures that are the most effective in reducing exposure to cigarette smoking and environmental tobacco smoke [6]. Among them creation of smoke-free public places and workplaces continues to be the most commonly established measure with the highest level of achievement [10]

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