Secondhand Smoke Exposure in a Low-Income, Public Health Clinic Population

Audience: This presentation will benefit researchers/evaluators, public health practitioners, and policy makers working on tobacco control issues in various work settings and roles. Key Points: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure has been linked to increased risk of severe health problems such as asthma and heart disease. SHS is generally more prevalent in communities with low income and poor living conditions. Reducing SHS exposure in high-risk communities has been the focus of key policy objectives of Project TRUST. To monitor change in SHS exposure in disadvantaged populations, the 2011 LAC Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (LA HANES) collected information on SHS exposure among a low-income, public health clinic population before policy implementations. Educational Experience: This presentation describes levels of self-reported and urine cotinine-measured SHS exposure in a low-income, public health clinic population using LA HANES data (n=521). Overall, 70% of all respondents reported SHS exposure and 72% had cotinine-measured SHS exposure. Respondents living in multiunit housing reported higher level of SHS exposure than those living in single-family-detached homes (73% vs. 64%, P=0.05). Unemployed respondents had higher cotinine-measured SHS exposure than those employed full-time (78% vs. 68%, P<0.05). These findings indicate that SHS exposure is very common in low-income adult populations. Findings are consistent with existing evidence base and suggest that investments in tobacco control policies and smoking cessation interventions are urgently needed to reduce health risks in priority populations in LAC. Benefits: This presentation will benefit target audience by providing valuable information on SHS exposure in priority populations and discussing culturally relevant intervention strategies.