Effect of children on home smoking restriction by inner-city smokers.
OBJECTIVE
The home is the site of the most significant environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure for children. Surveys show that adults, including smokers, agree that smoking should be restricted in homes of smokers with children. However, in a national survey, only 12.5% of such homes are actually smoke-free. This study examined factors associated with home smoking restriction among inner-city smokers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 598 adult smokers who attended an inner-city community health center was conducted.


RESULTS
Home smoking restriction was reported by 38.2% of all smokers (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33.6%-42.8%). Univariate analysis showed smoking restriction was positively associated with presence of children and of a nonsmoking adult partner in the home, intentional limiting of smoking, stages of change, and fewer number of cigarettes smoked daily. On multivariate analysis, home smoking restriction was more likely with the presence of a child (odds ratio: 2.63; 95% CI: 1.70-4.08) and a nonsmoking adult partner (odds ratio: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.32-4.02) in the home.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of children and of nonsmoking adults is associated with the practice of smoking restriction in the homes of inner-city smokers. These findings suggest that inner-city smokers are concerned about health effects of ETS on children. Health professionals should target nonsmoking adult members of households with children and smokers but no home smoking restriction and emphasize the health effects of ETS on children as a motivation for smoking parents to limit exposure and to quit smoking.
Okah
Felix A
FA
University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA. fokah@kumc.edu
Choi
Won S
WS
Okuyemi
Kolawole S
KS
Ahluwalia
Jasjit S
JS
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution