Fathers' Views and Experiences of Creating a Smoke-Free Home: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Reducing children's exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) is vital for their health.
• Current smoke-free home interventions primarily target mothers, neglecting fathers' roles.
• There is limited understanding of the barriers and facilitators fathers encounter in establishing smoke-free homes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the factors influencing fathers' involvement in creating smoke-free homes.
• To identify gaps in research and interventions related to fathers and smoke-free homes.
• To inform the development of father-inclusive smoke-free home strategies.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of English-language studies published since 2008.
• Systematic searches were conducted in Web of Science, PsycINFO, and PubMed.
• Twelve studies were included, with findings analyzed thematically.

Main Results:

• Fathers' attitudes, knowledge, cultural norms, and perceptions of fatherhood impact their role in smoke-free homes.
• Gender power dynamics play a significant role in establishing smoke-free environments.
• Few studies have evaluated interventions specifically designed for fathers in smoke-free home initiatives.

Conclusions:

• Fathers' engagement in creating smoke-free homes is influenced by a complex interplay of personal, social, and cultural factors.
• There is a need for more research to understand fathers' experiences and challenges.
• Developing father-inclusive interventions is essential for improving household health and gender equity.