title: Smoke-free homes, strength of smoke-free law, and children in the home.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a leading cause of childhood illness and premature death, especially in rural areas. The study examined the relationship of having a smoke-free home, strength of smoke-free law (SFL) in the county of residence, having one or more minor children in the home, rural/urban location, and demographics.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Internet-based panel survey was administered to Kentucky residents from 2007 to 2012. Sample size ranged from 400 to 513 per year; N = 2,653 total. Most were female, aged 35-54, had at least some college education, and lived in a smoke-free home. Almost half lived in a county with a comprehensive SFL; 14% lived in a county with a moderate or weak law.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the significant predictors of a smoke-free home included having education beyond high school, being a nonsmoker, living in an urban county, and having a year of participation in the survey. Controlling for smoking status and other personal characteristics, those who responded to the survey in the last 2 years of administration were more likely to have a smoke-free home compared to the reference year of 2007. Respondents living in urban counties were nearly 2 times more likely to report a smoke-free home than rural dwellers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoke-free homes in urban areas, where SFLs may be the norm, may be more typical than in rural communities. Public awareness campaigns and education about the benefits of smoke-free homes is needed, especially in rural areas, targeting smokers, those with less education, and those with children living in the home.
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Policy Research Program, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY;
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Mary Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Rayens
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ashford
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adkins
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gombeski
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Britt
authors.forename: Ellen J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution