Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is an important source of morbidity in pre-school children. The World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control identify ETS exposure as one of the four priorities for global tobacco prevention and control. Community based approaches including regulation through policy have been shown to be profitable and effective when implemented to reduce passive smoke exposure in the workplace. Can similar policies be implemented to reduce ETS exposure in home environments? Policies which regulate tobacco use in public places and day care centers have contributed to reduction of smoke exposure of young children, but these are not sufficient as small children are exposed to ETS primarily through their home environments. Factors which affect policies governing smoke exposure in family controlled environments such as homes and cars have been little studied. Understanding how family rules and policies affect practices related to ETS in the home are essential in the development of effective individualized or community based programs. The use of qualitative interviews with family members of pre-school children exposed to ETS provide needed information in understanding what policies and rules exist and how these are implemented or enforced. From these interviews, factors which influence possibilities for effective programs and limitations of implementing them in family controlled environments emerge. Programs targeting individuals and communities can then be better developed to protect young children from ETS exposure and reduce morbidity.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be prepared to: 1) Discuss the relationship between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and the morbidity of young children. 2)Discuss the role of policy development and implementation in reducing environmental tobacco smoke exposure of young children. 3) Identify community based strategies useful in reducing environmental tobacco smoke exposure of children in the home environment. 4) Describe the limitations of program/policy approaches in reducing environmental tobacco smoke exposure of children and methods useful in addressing them.
Keywords: Children's Health, Tobacco
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.