title: Smoke-free environments: age, sex, and educational disparity in 25 Argentinean cities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is scarce evidence of secondhand smoke (SHS) and disparity in developing countries. We evaluated the relationship between socio-demographic variables and secondhand smoke-related factors in Argentina.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized telephone survey (2008/2009) in 25 Argentinean cities. We included a sample of 160 respondents per city stratified by sex and age. We used different generalized multivariate regression models with a confidence interval of 95 % for the five outcome variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We sampled 4,000 respondents, 52.2 % women, 36 % adolescents and young adults (15-29 years), 58 % ≥12 years of education, and 72.6 % nonsmokers. Support to 100 % smoke-free environment legislation was higher in older than in younger respondents, OR = 1.5 (IC: 1.2-2.0), and in people with higher education levels, OR = 1.2 (IC: 1.1-1.4). Exposure to SHS was significantly lower in men than in women at home and in public places, IRR = 0.7 (IC: 0.5-0.9) and IRR  = 0.8 (IC: 0.6-0.9), respectively. Older respondents reported lower exposure at home and in public places than adolescents and young adults, IRR = 0.6 (IC: 0.4-0.8) and IRR = 0.4 (IC: 0.3-0.5), respectively. People with higher education levels had a higher level of exposure in indoor public places than less educated people, IRR = 1.1 (IC: 1.1-1.2). Knowledge of respiratory disease in children caused by SHS exposure was lower in men than in women, RRR = 0.3 (IC: 0.1-0.6). Perceived compliance was higher in men than in women, OR = 1.4 (IC: 1.1-1.8) and in people with higher education levels, OR = 1.2 (IC: 1.1-1.4). Older and more educated respondents were more empowered than. younger and less educated people, OR = 1.5 (IC: 1.2-1.9) and OR = 1.2 (IC: 1.1-1.3), respectively. Reference groups for each variable were age: 15-29; education: ≤7 years; and sex: men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to explore socio-demographic variables regarding secondhand smoke in our country. Women and younger people are more vulnerable to SHS-related factors in Argentina.
authors.affiliation: Fundación InterAmericana del Corazón-Argentina, Scalabrini Ortiz 2470 4 H CABA, Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina. veronica.schoj@ficargentina.org
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schoj
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allemandi
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ianovsky
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lago
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alderete
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina; D002947:Cities; D004522:Educational Status; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution