Parental Smoking and Children’s Exposure to Passive Smoking: Habits, Attitudes, and Concerns
1
Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osjek, Osijek, Croatia
2
Teaching Public Health Institute of Split and Dalmatia County and School of Medicine, University of Split, Vukovarska 46, 21 000, Split, Croatia, Split, Croatia
3
School of medicine, Medicine University of Split, Split, Croatia
4
Clinical hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia
5
Institute of Public Health Bjelovar-bilogora county, Bjelovar, Croatia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Passive smoking (SHS) is a critical global public health problem which significantly impact children's health. Exposure is associated with bronchitis and pneumonia, chronic respiratory symptoms including asthma and wheezing, impaired lung function and reduced weight and height gain. WHO show that 60% of children worldwide are exposed to passive smoking by their parents.
METHODS:
To examine parents habits, attitudes and behavior related to the problem of passive smoking through standardized surveys. Data were collected on systematic exam for first grade children.
RESULTS:
Out of a total of 402 respondents, 118 (29.4%) parents smoke. 114 (96.6%) are cared for by their children's health. 64 (54.2%) smoke indoors in the presence of their child. 33 (21.9%) smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. Non-smoking parents would not allow their child to smoke, while smoking parents would approve of smoking (p<0.01, χ2 = 15.55). Mothers smoke more in the presence of their child outdoors and indoors than fathers (p<0.01, χ2 = 7.95). Statistically significantly more respondents from the city are concerned about the harmful effects of their smoking on the health of their children (p<0.01, χ2 = 9.66). The higher the level of education, the greater the concern of parents for the health of their children (p<0.01, χ2 = 15.05) and they smoke outdoors (p<0.01, χ2 = 17.04). Working parents are more concerned about children health (p<0.01, χ2 = 9.42) and smoke less in outdoor space (p<0.01, χ2 = 6.17) compare to stay at home parents. The better the financial situation of the family, the greater the concern for the health of their children (p<0.01, χ2 = 9.91).
CONCLUSIONS:
Passive smoking can cause a number of health problems for children. Parental education and adherence to it are important. If a parent smokes, they do so outdoors and without the child being present.
Passive smoking (SHS) is a critical global public health problem which significantly impact children's health. Exposure is associated with bronchitis and pneumonia, chronic respiratory symptoms including asthma and wheezing, impaired lung function and reduced weight and height gain. WHO show that 60% of children worldwide are exposed to passive smoking by their parents.
METHODS:
To examine parents habits, attitudes and behavior related to the problem of passive smoking through standardized surveys. Data were collected on systematic exam for first grade children.
RESULTS:
Out of a total of 402 respondents, 118 (29.4%) parents smoke. 114 (96.6%) are cared for by their children's health. 64 (54.2%) smoke indoors in the presence of their child. 33 (21.9%) smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. Non-smoking parents would not allow their child to smoke, while smoking parents would approve of smoking (p<0.01, χ2 = 15.55). Mothers smoke more in the presence of their child outdoors and indoors than fathers (p<0.01, χ2 = 7.95). Statistically significantly more respondents from the city are concerned about the harmful effects of their smoking on the health of their children (p<0.01, χ2 = 9.66). The higher the level of education, the greater the concern of parents for the health of their children (p<0.01, χ2 = 15.05) and they smoke outdoors (p<0.01, χ2 = 17.04). Working parents are more concerned about children health (p<0.01, χ2 = 9.42) and smoke less in outdoor space (p<0.01, χ2 = 6.17) compare to stay at home parents. The better the financial situation of the family, the greater the concern for the health of their children (p<0.01, χ2 = 9.91).
CONCLUSIONS:
Passive smoking can cause a number of health problems for children. Parental education and adherence to it are important. If a parent smokes, they do so outdoors and without the child being present.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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