title: Secondhand smoke exposure among Hispanics/Latinos living in multiunit housing: exploring barriers to new policies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite a high prevalence of voluntary home smoking bans and laws protecting Californians from exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in the workplace, many Hispanic/Latino (H/L) residents of multiunit housing (MUH) are potentially exposed to SHS from neighboring apartments. An advocacy/policy intervention was implemented to reduce tobacco-related health disparities by encouraging H/L living in MUH to implement voluntary policies that reduce exposure to SHS. This article presents findings from qualitative and quantitative data collected during development of the intervention, as well as preliminary results of the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  MUH residents in Southern California participated in focus groups (n = 48), door-to-door surveys (n = 142), and a telephone survey (n = 409).
  
  
  METHODS
  Exposure to SHS, attitudes toward SHS, and attitudes toward policies restricting SHS in MUH were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  H/L MUH residents reported high levels of exposure to SHS and little ability to protect themselves and their families from SHS. Respondents expressed positive attitudes toward adopting antismoking policies in MUH, but they also feared retaliation by smokers. The cultural values of familismo, respeto, simpatía, and personalismo influenced their motivation to protect their families from SHS as well as their reluctance to ask their neighbors to refrain from smoking. Nonsmokers were more likely to favor complete indoor and outdoor smoking bans in MUH, whereas smokers were more likely to favor separate smoking areas. The Regale Salud advocacy/policy intervention, implemented to reduce SHS exposure, prompted the passage of seven voluntary policies in apartment complexes in Southern California to prevent smoking in MUH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  H/L in California support voluntary policies, local ordinances, and state laws that prevent exposure to SHS in MUH, especially those that are consistent with H/L cultural values and norms for interpersonal communication.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1000 South Fremont, Unit 8, Alhambra, CA 91803, USA. baezcond@usc.edu
authors.forename: Lourdes A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Baezconde-Garbanati
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weich-Reushé
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Portugal
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barahona
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garbanati
authors.forename: Faatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seedat
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Unger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002140:California; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006291:Health Policy; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006798:Housing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution