Parent reported home smoking bans and toddler (18-30 month) smoke exposure: a cross-sectional survey

Arch Dis Child. 2005 Jul;90(7):670-4. doi: 10.1136/adc.2004.054684.

Abstract

Aims: To study the relation between the use of parent reported home smoking bans and smoke exposure among children aged 18-30 months.

Methods: A total of 309 smoking households with children aged 18-30 months, who were part of the Coventry Cohort study, consented to participate in this cross-sectional survey.

Results: Although parents in almost 88% of smoking households reported using harm reduction strategies to protect their toddlers from smoke exposure, only 13.9% reported smoking bans in the house. Mean log urinary cotinine:creatinine ratio was significantly lower for those children whose parents reported no smoking in the house (1.11, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.49) compared with none/less strict strategies (1.87, 95% CI 1.64 to 2.10). In linear regression models fitted on log cotinine:creatinine ratio, no smoking in the house was independently associated with a significant reduction in cotinine:creatinine ratio (B = -0.55, 95% CI -0.89 to -0.20) after adjusting for mother's and partner's average daily cigarette consumption, housing tenure, and overcrowding. The final model accounted for 44.3% of the variance.

Conclusions: Not smoking in the house was associated with a reduction in mean urinary cotinine:creatinine ratio in children aged 18-30 months; the relation persisted after adjustment for levels of mother's and partner's daily cigarette consumption and sociodemographic factors. Results suggest that home smoking bans in this age group have a small but significant effect on smoke exposure independent of levels of parental tobacco consumption.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Cotinine / urine
  • Creatinine / urine
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Family Health*
  • Female
  • Harm Reduction
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Parents*
  • Smoking Cessation / methods*
  • Smoking Prevention*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution
  • Creatinine
  • Cotinine