Identifying infants at high-risk for second-hand smoke exposure

Child Care Health Dev. 2014 May;40(3):441-5. doi: 10.1111/cch.12058. Epub 2013 Apr 2.

Abstract

Background: To examine the social determinants of infant smoke exposure and whether these associations vary by mothers' smoking status and number of children in the household.

Methods: There were 135 278 mothers from 28 states who participated in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System from 2000 to 2003.

Results: Overall 9.9% of mothers reported that her infant was in the same room as someone smoking for 1 or more hours per day. Among smoking households, infants with 1 or 2+ siblings were 25% and 59% more likely to be exposed to 1+ hours of second-hand smoke daily, respectively, than infants with no siblings.

Conclusion: Infants only a few months old are being exposed to second-hand smoke, particularly infants whose mother smokes and infants with siblings, indicating the importance of surveillance even for this young age group.

Keywords: infant; second-hand smoke.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Maternal Behavior
  • Mothers / psychology
  • Mothers / statistics & numerical data
  • Postpartum Period
  • Risk Assessment / methods
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Social Determinants of Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / analysis*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution