title: The need for gender specific tobacco control strategies KAP survey findings on environmental tobacco smoke exposure among women in the reproductive age group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was done to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of women within the child bearing age with regard to smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on children's health.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative components was designed to collect data from women in the child-bearing age. The sample comprised of persons from the two largest combined family planning and antenatal clinics in Kingston, Jamaica.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The women surveyed had a fair level of knowledge about ETS health risks, negative attitudes to smoking in general, and most supported a ban on smoking in public places. Significant knowledge differences existed between young and older women and between smokers and non-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with the highest level of knowledge were the non-smokers: of the low knowledge score group (current smokers), 50% were in the 15-24-year age range. There is a need for more public education on smoking and the consequences of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on children's health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Division of Ear, Nose and Throat, University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maharaj
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution