Professor University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine San Francisco, California, United States
Background: Exposure to secondhand smoke has long-term consequences for young children including cardiovascular, pulmonary and cognitive deficits (lower scores in math and visuospatial reasoning). Objective: To assess the frequency of secondhand smoke and aerosol exposure and household rules concerning secondhand smoke from an existing predominantly Latinx mother-child San Francisco-based longitudinal cohort with children under 5 years of age. Design/Methods: We used a modified version of the Adult Secondhand Exposures to Smoke (7 day) (ASHES-7) questionnaire to survey maternal attitudes on secondhand smoke and aerosol exposure. We also assessed secondhand smoke exposure and household rules concerning secondhand smoke in relation to maternal socio-demographics and maternal prenatal health history in relation to secondhand smoke exposure. Chi-squared tests were used to evaluate associations between exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosol, allowance of use of tobacco products in the home and family socio-demographics. Results: In our cohort of 185 mother-child pairs (73% Latina; 38% Spanish speaking or bilingual, mean maternal age 37.5+/-6.1 years), 41.6% reported secondhand smoke or aerosol exposure during the past 7 days and 20.5% allowed smoking or e-cigarette use in certain areas of the house (including outside balconies). Latina mothers were more likely to have been exposed to secondhand smoke during the past 7 days than non-Latina mothers (48.2% versus 24.0%; p< 0.01) as were Spanish speakers (compared with English) (52.9% versus 34.2%; p=0.01). Spanish speakers were also more likely to allow use of tobacco products in the designated areas of the home compared with non-Spanish speakers (34.3% versus 12.3%; p< 0.01). Younger mothers were also more likely to allow use of tobacco products in designated areas (35.8 versus 38.0 years; p=0.045). In adjusted analyses, Spanish speaking families (compared with English) were more likely to allow use of tobacco products (OR 3.62, 95%CI 1.26-10.41) and Hispanic families were more likely to have been exposed to secondhand smoke or aerosol compared with other ethnicities (OR 2.53, 95%CI 1.02-6.31; p=0.046).
Conclusion(s): In a cohort of primarily Latina mothers and children under 5 years of age, a high percentage reported exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosols ( with greater risk associated with maternal Latina ethnicity. Spanish speaking mothers (versus English) were more likely to allow for designated smoking areas in the home. Targeted interventions should focus on Latina mothers and in particular Spanish speakers to reduce secondhand smoke and aerosol exposures.
