title: Exposure to secondhand smoke among adults - Philippines, 2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We assessed the differences in exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among adults at home, in indoor workplaces, and in various public places in the Philippines across various socio-demographic groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted in 2009 in the Philippines were used. The data consist of survey answers from 9705 respondents from a nationally representative, multistage probability sample of adults aged 15 years or older. We considered that respondents were exposed to SHS if during the previous 30 days they reported that they lived in a home, worked in a building, or visited a public place where people smoked. The public places included in our analysis were indoor workplaces, public transportation vehicles, restaurants, government buildings or offices, and healthcare facilities. The differences in various socioeconomic and demographic groups' exposure to SHS in these places were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of respondents who reported working indoors, 36.8% were exposed to SHS. Men (43.3% [95% CI 39.7-46.9]) were more likely than women (28.8% [95% CI 25.4-32.4]) to be exposed to SHS (p < 0.001). Of those working in sites where smoking was not allowed, 13.9% were exposed to SHS, whereas 66.5% were exposed where smoking is allowed in some enclosed areas, and 90.7% were exposed where smoking is allowed everywhere. During the 30 days preceding the survey, more than 50% of those who took public transportation were exposed to SHS; exposure for those who visited public buildings was 33.6% in restaurants, 25.5% in government buildings or offices, and 7.6% in healthcare facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a national law passed and several local government ordinances that have promulgated smoke-free workplaces, schools, government offices, and healthcare facilities, our findings show that a large proportion of adults were exposed to SHS at work and in public places, which offers opportunities to strengthen and improve enforcement of the smoke-free initiatives and ordinances in the Philippines.
authors.affiliation: Philippines Country Office, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines marbaquilod@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Marina M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Baquilod
authors.affiliation: Philippines Department of Health, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Agnes B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Segarra
authors.affiliation: National Statistics Office, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barcenas
authors.affiliation: Western Pacific Regional Office, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mercado
authors.affiliation: Western Pacific Regional Office, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rarick
authors.affiliation: Global Tobacco Control Branch, Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Krishna Mohan
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Palipudi
authors.affiliation: Global Tobacco Control Branch, Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asma
authors.affiliation: Global Tobacco Control Branch, Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Andes
authors.affiliation: CDC Foundation, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Talley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
keywords: Global Adult Tobacco Survey; Philippines; World Health Organization; adults; secondhand smoke; socio-economic status; tobacco