Summary: | Introduction
Prevalence of paternal smoking is high in Asia and babies are
vulnerable to secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure at home. This study
assesses socioeconomic characteristics and paternal smoking in households and
infants’ exposure to SHS.
Methods
A cross-sectional analysis of data collected as part of a prospective cohort
study was conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia during 2017–2019. Participants were
156 mother-baby pairs whose babies reached the age of 6 months. Socioeconomic
characteristics and smoking behaviour in the household were assessed by
questionnaires. Factors related to paternal smoking and infants’ exposure to SHS
were assessed using a multivariate logistic regression model.
Results
Almost two-thirds of infants lived with fathers who were smokers. Lower
levels of paternal education (OR=2.59; 95% CI: 1.19–5.63; p=0.045) and infants
with one sibling (OR=2.41; 95% CI: 1.02–5.67; p=0.044) increased the risk of
paternal smoking in the household. Moreover, infants with one sibling (OR=3.09;
95% CI: 1.15–8.32; p=0.026), lower level of father education (OR=18.73; 95%
CI: 1.54–227.93; p=0.022), and a high number of other household members who
smoke (OR=4.54; 95% CI : 1.42–14.48; p=0.011) were the risk factors of SHS
exposure among infants at home.
Conclusions
These findings demonstrate the significant influence of educational
level, number of children and/or number of other smokers in the household on
paternal smoking and SHS exposure among infants at home. Comprehensive
tobacco control programmes to increase adoption of smoke-free homes are likely
to be an effective way to reduce SHS exposure and promote decreased cigarette
smoking in families with children.
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