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Disparities in Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Homes among Nonsmokers in California
Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the 2011/2012 California Health Interview Survey, a statewide population-based multi-lingual telephone survey, we examined the prevalence of SHS exposure in homes and its correlates using weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis. Home SHS exposure was defined by self-report of at least “some days” with smoking inside the respondents’ homes.
Results: Analyses included 37,958 nonsmokers aged 18 and older (52.9% female, 45.3% limited English proficient, 34.8% Hispanics, 43.0% non-Hispanic Whites, 5.2% African American, and 14.5% Asians). The weighted prevalence of home SHS exposure among nonsmoking adults in California varied by racial/ethnic groups: African Americans (10.7%), Asian Americans (6.5%), non-Hispanic Whites (4.9%), others (3.9%), and Hispanics (3.1%). Disaggregated Asian group data showed nonsmoking Korean Americans had the highest home SHS exposure prevalence (16.5%). Multivariable analysis revealed that when compared to non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans (OR=1.9; 95%CI: 1.5-2.5), Koreans (OR=4.7, 95%CI: 3.1-7.6), other Asians (OR=1.4; 95%CI: 1.03-1.8) had higher odds to report SHS exposure in homes, while Hispanics (OR=0.7; 95%CI: 0.5-0.9) had lower odds. These racial/ethnic differences were unexplained by English proficiency, education or other significant correlates of home SHS exposure (former smoking, younger age, low-income, being male or single).
Conclusion: Smokefree home rules adoption has translated to home SHS exposure elimination for non-Hispanic White and Hispanic Californians. Home SHS exposure remains high among African Americans and Asians, particularly among Koreans in California. Findings revealed the need of community-tailored interventions and key characteristics of high-risk populations that policy and education interventions should target to effectively address disparities in SHS exposure.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and cultureEnvironmental health sciences
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Describe disparities in secondhand smoke exposure in homes among nonsmokers in California.
Identify policy and education intervention opportunities to eliminate home secondhand smoke exposure disparities.
Keyword(s): Tobacco Control, Asian Americans
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a social psychologist by training, and my research has focused on understanding health and mental health disparities in underserved populations. I am currently a NIDA-funded postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, under the mentorship of Dr. Janice Tsoh.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.