Abstract
BackgroundIn the United Kingdom, there has been an increase in cigarette smoking in ethnic minority adults since the 1970s; in some groups levels are now similar to that of White British people. We aimed to examine the determinants of exposure to secondhand smoke in ethnic minority children. We hypothesised that exposure to secondhand smoke in children will vary across ethnic groups, but that the correlates of exposure would be similar to that of Whites.MethodsThe Determinants of Adolescent Social well-being and Health sample comprises 3468 White United Kingdom and ethnic minority (Black Caribbean, Black African, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) pupils aged 11-13 yrs. Outcome was saliva cotinine concentration. Explanatory variables collected by self-complete questionnaire included ethnicity, child reported household smoking and socio-economic circumstances. Data were analysed using linear regression models with a random intercept function.ResultsEthnic minority children had lower saliva cotinine than Whites, partly explained by less smoking among parents. White and Black Caribbean children had higher cotinine levels if they lived in a household with a maternal smoker only, than with a paternal smoker only. Living in a lone compared to a dual parent household was associated with increased cotinine concentration of 45% (95%CI 5, 99%) in Whites, 27% (95%CI 5,53%) in Black Caribbeans and 21% (95%CI 1, 45%) in Black Africans after adjusting for household smoking status. Material disadvantage was a significant correlate only for White children (40% (95%CI 1, 94%) increase in cotinine in least compared to most advantaged group).ConclusionsEthnic minority children were less exposed to secondhand smoke than Whites, but the variations within groups were similarly patterned. These findings suggest that it is important not to be complacent about low smoking prevalence in some minority groups.
Highlights
In the United Kingdom, there has been an increase in cigarette smoking in ethnic minority adults since the 1970s; in some groups levels are similar to that of White British people
Ethnic minority children were less likely than White United Kingdom (UK) children to live with a mother who smoked cigarettes or with two parents who smoked
Bangladeshi children were more likely and Black Africans less likely to live with a paternal smoker than White UK
Summary
In the United Kingdom, there has been an increase in cigarette smoking in ethnic minority adults since the 1970s; in some groups levels are similar to that of White British people. We aimed to examine the determinants of exposure to secondhand smoke in ethnic minority children. We hypothesised that exposure to secondhand smoke in children will vary across ethnic groups, but that the correlates of exposure would be similar to that of Whites. In 2004, compared with White UK men, smoking prevalence remained similar in Black Caribbeans (24% and 25% respectively)[7]. Smoking prevalence was lower in Indians (20%), but higher in Pakistani (29%) and Bangladeshi (40%) men compared to the White UK group [7]. In 2004, Black Caribbean women had similar smoking prevalence to White UK women (24% and 23% respectively)[7], whereas Black African (10%) and South Asian (i.e. Bangladeshis 2%) women had lower rates. Gender differences in tobacco smoking is culturally patterned in Pakistanis and Bangladeshis [8,9]. Bangladeshi men and women have been found to have lower self-reported smoking rates than suggested by their salivary cotinine concentration[7]
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