Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Children: A Neglected Driver of Health Disparities and Social Injustice in Nigeria

West Afr J Med. 2021 | Dec 30;Vol. 38(12): |1216-1223

Abstract

Background: The adverse effects of Second-Hand Smoke (SHS) exposure has been reported in the literature, but data on SHS exposure among children in Nigeria is virtually nonexistent. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of SHS exposure to tobacco among school children in Nigeria and to assess its association with socio-demographic factors.

Methods: Data from three pairs of school-based descriptive studies in Lagos, Nigeria was utilized and socioeconomic characteristics and smoking behaviour in the households were obtained using validated questionnaires. Parental and relatives smoking habits were utilized as the indicators of SHS exposure. Prevalence rates were calculated; chi-squared tests and logistic regression analysis were conducted to determine significant associations and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated.

Results: Within the preceding month, 37.6% of the children had been regularly exposed to SHS while 15.5% of them lived with parents and family members who smoked tobacco indoors of which 7.9% were daily exposed to SHS; 19.7% of the children daily experienced cough, nasal congestion, throat, or eye irritation. In the regression analysis, the likelihood of SHS exposure were significantly higher in those with parents that smoke regularly (OR=2.62; 95% CI: 1.50-5.27; p=0.042), lower levels of paternal education (OR=1.7; 95% CI: 0.61-5.27; p=0.021) who live in cramped accommodations (OR=1.79; 95% CI: 1.02-5.67; p=0.044) and those from households with >5 children (OR=1.51; 95% CI: 0.90-2.56; p=0.003).

Conclusions: There was a significant association between parental smoking habits, paternal education, type of accommodation and number of children in the household on SHS exposure in children. Tobacco control policies should emphasize the protection of children through the adoption of smoke-free homes and increase parental awareness on the impact of SHS exposure on children.