Original Articles
Parental perceptions towards passive smoking: a cross-sectional survey in Vikarabad town, India
Authors:
K S Poornima ,
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College and Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, IN
About K S
Senior Resident, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College and Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
P Parthasarathi Reddy,
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, IN
About P
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, India
M Shakeel Anjum,
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, IN
About M
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, India
M Monica,
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, IN
About M
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, India
K Yadav Rao,
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, IN
About K
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, India
Irram Abbas
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, IN
About Irram
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, India
Abstract
Background: Environmental tobacco smoke is a known human carcinogen and passive smoking has now emerged as a health threat. Home is the major source of exposure to tobacco smoke among children.
Objective: To explore parents’ smoking behaviour and their perceptions towards passive smoking and its effects on their children.
Method: A cross-sectional, household survey was conducted on 179 smoking parents in an Indian town using a semi-structured questionnaire which gathered information about demographic factors and 21 questions assessing their smoking behaviour and perceptions about passive smoking.
Results: Thirty two percent reported that they did not know smoking caused cancer and only 25% strongly believed that if parents smoked, it had a harmful effect on children's health.
Conclusion: Low education, unskilled jobs and a past experience of smoking related health problems have an influence on the way passive smoke and its harmful effects are perceived by smoking parents.
How to Cite:
Poornima, K.S., Reddy, P.P., Anjum, M.S., Monica, M., Rao, K.Y. and Abbas, I., 2016. Parental perceptions towards passive smoking: a cross-sectional survey in Vikarabad town, India. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 45(1), pp.24–31. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v45i1.8081
Published on
05 Mar 2016.
Peer Reviewed
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