Further Insights on Predictors of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure during the Pediatric Age

Carmela Protano, Vittoria Cammalleri, Arianna Antonucci, Alexandra Sabina Ungureanu, Francesa Santilli, Stefano Martellucci, Vincenzo Mattei and Matteo Vitali
Additional contact information
Carmela Protano: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Vittoria Cammalleri: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Arianna Antonucci: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Alexandra Sabina Ungureanu: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Francesa Santilli: Biomedicine and Advanced Technologies Rieti Center, “Sabina Universitas”, 02100 Rieti, Italy
Stefano Martellucci: Biomedicine and Advanced Technologies Rieti Center, “Sabina Universitas”, 02100 Rieti, Italy
Vincenzo Mattei: Biomedicine and Advanced Technologies Rieti Center, “Sabina Universitas”, 02100 Rieti, Italy
Matteo Vitali: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-11

Abstract: Background: The smoking ban in public places has reduced Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) exposure for non-smokers, but despite this, domestic environments still remain places at high risk of exposure, and, today, about 40% of children worldwide are exposed to ETS at home. The aims of the study are to investigate the contribution of several factors on ETS exposure among a group of Italian children and to evaluate the changes in smoking precautions adopted at home when the smoker is the mother, the father, or both parents, respectively. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 519 Italian schoolchildren. Information was collected via a questionnaire. Results: 41.4% of the participants lived with at least one smoker. Almost half of the children exposed to ETS lived with one or more smokers who do not observe any home smoking ban. Lower maternal or paternal educational levels significantly increase the risk of ETS exposure at home and the “worst case” is represented by both parents who smoke. Conclusions: More effective preventive interventions are needed to protect children from ETS exposure. Some interventions should be specifically dedicated to smokers with a low educational level and to mothers that smoke.

Keywords: Environmental Tobacco Smoke; home smoking policies; smoking ban; ethnicity; educational level; children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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