Decrease in the prevalence of environmental tobacco smoke exposure in the home during the 1990s in families with children.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored correlates with and changes in the prevalence of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure of children in the home.


METHODS
We used multiple logistic regression to explore ETS exposures as reported in the 1992 and 2000 National Health Interview Survey.


RESULTS
ETS exposure in homes with children declined from 35.6% to 25.1% (P <.001) between 1992 and 2000, whereas smoking prevalence declined 26.5% to 23.3%. Home ETS exposures were more prevalent among non-Hispanic Whites than among African Americans (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.702; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.614, 0.802), Asian Americans (AOR = 0.534; 95% CI = 0.378, 0.754), and Hispanics (AOR = 0.388; 95% CI = 0.294, 0.389). Exposures declined across all groups, with greater gains in higher education and income groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Home ETS exposure declined sharply between 1992 and 2000, more than would be predicted by the decline in adult smoking prevalence.
Soliman
Soheil
S
University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA. solimans@umich.edu
Pollack
Harold A
HA
Warner
Kenneth E
KE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000465:Algorithms; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005192:Family Health / Q000208:ethnology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution