[The impact of migration background on children's secondhand smoke exposure. A cross-sectional study within the health monitoring units (GME) in Bavaria, Germany]

Abstract

Aim of the study: Differences in children's secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure were examined by migration-specific characteristics, socioeconomic factors and living conditions, as well as with regard to the parents SHS knowledge and SHS attitudes.

Study population and methods: Data from 5,336 pre-school children (29% migrants) were collected in a cross-sectional study in 2008/2009 in Germany through parental questionnaire (response rate: 61%). Using multiple logistic regression, the association of migration background and children's SHS exposure was analysed.

Results: Children with a migration background are at an increased risk of SHS exposure in their homes. Multivariate analyses show that adjusting for socioeconomic factors and parental knowledge of how to protect their children from SHS reduces the estimates of migration background significantly. Compared to children without migration background, the chance of SHS exposure for children with migration background is still increased (OR [95% CI]: 1.57 [1.23-2.01]). Children of Turkish-speaking families, compared to children from German-speaking families, are most often burdened by SHS (3.05 [2.18-4.26]).

Conclusion: Migrant-sensitive tobacco prevention in selected risk groups is necessary to provide support for creating smoke-free homes for children.