The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58535

Kay M. Adkins, MPH¹, Michele Jacknik, MSEd¹, Mohammed Forouzesh, MPH, PhD², and Veronica Acosta-DePrez, PhD, CHES³. (1) Tobacco Use Reduction Now (TURN) Program, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, 505 N. Arrowhead Ave., Suite 500, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0048, (909) 388-5777, kadkins@dph.sbcounty.gov, (2) California State University at Long Beach, Health Sciences Department, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840-0006, (3) Health Science, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840

The San Bernardino County, Department of Public Health, Tobacco Use Reduction Now (TURN) Program surveyed Headstart parents to determine the number of families that allow smoking inside their homes. This instrument was also used to determine children’s exposure to secondhand smoke. The survey was administered in 11 different preschools located in San Ber-nardino County. Three hundred and nineteen respondents participated in completing a short self-administered six-question survey. Interventions included presentations to preschool children, presentations to parents, teacher training, and take-home materials to reinforce the creation of smoke-free home environments. A predominance of families (94%) reported having at least one child 6 years old or younger living in the home, with 25% reporting a smoker living in the home. Many of the participants (86%) indicated that smoking is not allowed in their home, followed by 13% allowing smoking in designated areas of their home and 1% reporting that smoking is al-lowed anywhere inside their home. Following the intervention, participants utilized many of the behaviors recommended through the trainings and materials for creating smoke-free environ-ments. These include asking people to smoke outside (77%), removing ashtrays from the home (62%), and informing others of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke on young children (55%). As indicated by the posttest survey results, the majority of the respondents were taking precautionary steps in maintaining a healthy living environment and preventing their children from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate three steps families can take to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Identify two reasons for involving preschools in secondhand smoke prevention interventions.
• Create a plan for invovling preschools in secondhand smoke prevention interventions.

Keywords: Smoking, Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.