title: Behaviours and opinions towards outdoor smoking bans and cigarette littering in Baja California, Mexico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Outdoor smoking bans have been implemented to reduce secondhand smoke exposure and cigarette littering. We aimed to explore outdoor smoking behaviours, cigarette littering, and support towards a recently enacted outdoor smoking ban in Baja California, Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 2013 to April 2014 a representative sample of 800 adults from urban areas of Baja California was surveyed to obtain information on demographics, smoking status, opinion towards outdoor smoking bans in general and in specific locations, and perceptions and habits regarding cigarette littering. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression analyses were conducted to estimate prevalence ratios and corresponding 95% CI taking into account the complex survey design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outdoor smoking was frequently observed, as 86.8% of the population reported having seen people smoking in parks and beaches and 94.4% in open venues such as concerts or stadiums. A smoking ban in all outdoor areas was supported by 71.8% of Baja California residents. Site-specific support ranged from 80% (stadiums) to 89% (public parks). Support for the ban was higher among never and ex-smokers than in current smokers. Cigarette littering was negatively perceived by 98% of the participants, yet 45% of all cigarettes smoked were thrown on the ground. Based on cigarette consumption and butt littering reported in the survey, we estimated that 27 million cigarette butts become litter every month in urban areas of Baja California.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outdoor smoking is still frequent in outdoor areas where people gather, and an important source of littering. We found substantial public support towards the outdoor smoking ban, which should translate into easier implementation and compliance in Baja California, Mexico.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Center for Population Health Research, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Basto-Abreu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Christine
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Center for Population Health Research, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zepeda-Tello
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Center for Research in Surveys and Evaluation, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Autonomous University of Baja California, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Design, Ensenada, Mexico.
authors.forename: Julian I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Aguilar Duque
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Center for Population Health Research, Cuernavaca, Mexico and.
authors.forename: Luz M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Reynales-Shigematsu
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Center for Population Health Research, Cuernavaca, Mexico tbarrientos@insp.mx.
authors.forename: Tonatiuh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barrientos-Gutierrez
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D011639:Public Opinion; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
keywords: Mexico; outdoor smoking bans; secondhand smoke; smoke-free policy