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Although studies indicate that public policy can influence the decrease in smoking behaviors, these policies have not necessarily transferred to home environments at the same rate. The authors surveyed 4,296 students in a southern urban area. African American students were 76.3% of the respondents and Caucasians accounted for 23.7%. African American homes are less likely to have full bans on smoking inside the home. Home smoking bans impact smoking behaviors, acceptance of smoking, susceptibility to smoking, smoking beliefs, and motivation to quit smoking. Along with home smoking bans, there are differences among African American and Caucasian youth in smoking exposure, behaviors, beliefs, and motivation to quit smoking. This study suggests that particularly in African American youth, educational efforts should be directed toward more restrictive home smoking policies to thwart the initiation of smoking in adolescents and to encourage positive attitudes toward smoking behaviors.

A study by questionnaire of 1845 urban and 349 rural mothers in all regions of Nigeria is reported. 99% of all mothers commenced breastfeeding their infants. In urban areas most continued for at least 6 months and in rural areas for at least 12 months. In urban areas, 77% of the infants were given infant formula by the age of 3 months; in rural areas 40% were given infant formula. Cereals were also introduced early to many children. The reasons for and the effects of this pattern of infant feeding are not clear, but it presumably meets the overall needs of the population. Further investigation is needed before attempts are made to enforce change.

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