The role of home smoking bans in limiting exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke in Hungary

Abstract

Our objective was to assess how exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke occurs in Hungarian homes, particularly among non-smokers, and to examine the effectiveness of home smoking bans in eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke at home. In 2009, 2286 non-smokers and smokers aged 16-70 years, who were selected randomly from a nationally representative sample of 48 Hungarian settlements, completed paper-and-pencil self-administered questionnaires addressing tobacco-related attitudes, opinions and behaviors. Chi-square tests, one-way analysis of variance and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of demographics, socio-economic characteristics and home smoking policies on the risk of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke at home. Significantly higher risk of exposure was found among younger, lower educated and poorer people and among those having no or partial home smoking restrictions. There was a significant interaction between education level and home smoking policies: the effect of a smoking ban on exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke was stronger for the lower educated group than the higher educated group. The results suggest that Hungarians are making good progress in implementing home smoking bans, and that in the majority of population these bans are working. More can be done to promote the uptake of home smoking bans among poorer and less educated subpopulations.

Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Older Adults in India

“…Strategies for protecting older adults from SHS exposure at home are critical to protecting this population, given their vulnerability of increased risk due to many other diseases and their likelihood of being confined to indoor environment for longer periods on a regular basis (Jaakkola, 2002).These strategies may include educating about the dangers of SHS and encouraging care givers either families or nursing homes to adopt smoke-free rules in their homes. Both family and public health professionals, including healthcare providers, can play an important role in this intervention (Paulik et al, 2013). At a societal level, effective enforcement of India's prohibition of smoking in public places rules adopted in 2008 (Smoke free law COPTA, n.a) could help to protect older adults from SHS in public places.…”