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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Charles Warren, PhD, Nathan Jones, PhD, Lela McKnight, PhD, and Samira Asma, PhD. Office on Smoking and Health/Global Tobacco Control Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS K-50, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770.488.8124, dvn1@cdc.gov

Introduction: Secondhand smoke (SHS) is an involuntarily inhaled mix of compounds that causes or contributes to a wide range of adverse health effects. We examined self-reported SHS exposure among adolescents in 132 WHO member states, territories, or other autonomous regions using data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) -- 1999-2005.

Methods: The GYTS is a school-based, cluster survey of students aged 13-15 years. The first stage is a selection of schools proportional to school enrollment size, and the second stage is a random selection of classes. All students in the selected classes are eligible to complete self-administered questionnaires. GYTS data are weighted to adjust for nonresponse and probability of selection of schools and classes, and country population. SUDAAN was used to compute standard errors of the estimates and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: GYTS data indicated that a large proportion of students from all WHO Regions were exposed to SHS at home and in public places and many have parents or best friends who smoke. Overall, 43.9% of students reported SHS exposure at home, 55.8% were exposed in public places, 46.5% had one or more parents who smoked, 17.9% reported that most of their best friends smoked, and 76.1% supported smoking bans in public places.

Conclusions: GYTS data show that world-wide exposure to SHS among students is very high (over 50%), but students want a ban on smoking in public places. Countries should use this positive public health evidence among youths to promote and enforce smoke-free public places and workplaces.

Learning Objectives: