Secondhand smoke exposure at home in rural China

This study estimated secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure at home among nonsmoking children (age 0-18) and adults (age ≥ 19) in rural China, and examined associated socio-demographic factors.

A total of 5,442 nonsmokers (including 1,456 children and 3,986 adults) living in six rural areas in China were interviewed in person. The standardized questionnaire obtained information on their demographic characteristics and SHS exposure at home. Differences in SHS exposure were assessed by use of the chi-squared test. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associated factors.

Occurrence of SHS exposure at home among nonsmoking children and adults was 68.0 and 59.3%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis found that children living in households with married, low-education, and low-income heads of household, and those who resided in the Qinghai province of China were more likely to be exposed to SHS. Among adults, those who were female, aged 19-34, single, low-education, and low-income, and those who lived in Qinghai province were more likely to be exposed to SHS at home.

Our findings of substantial SHS exposure at home in rural China emphasize the importance of implementing interventions to reduce SHS exposure among this population.