Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Abstract
Objective—Determine if secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE) is related to asthma-related functional morbidity by examining racial/ethnic differences in Non-Latino White (NLW), African American, and Latino families and whether racial/ethnic SHSE differences across families persist when accounting for smoking factors.
Methods—Participants were 305 caregiver smokers of children with asthma. Two passive dosimeters measured SHS: one in the home and one worn by the child.
Results—Higher SHSE was related to greater asthma-related functional morbidity. African Americans had higher levels of home SHSE than Latinos (p = .003) or NLWs (p = .021). SHSE as assessed by the child worn dosimeter did not differ across race/ethnicity. African American families were less likely to report a household smoking ban (46.4%) compared to Latinos (79.2%) and NLWs (67.9%; p < .05). African Americans were less likely to report having two or more smokers in the home (37.2%) compared to NLWs (53.6%; p < .05). NLWs reported the highest number of cigarettes smoked daily (Mdn = 15.00) compared to Latinos (Mdn = 10.00; p = .001) and African Americans (Mdn = 10.00; p < .001). SHS home exposure levels were regressed on race/ethnicity and relevant covariates. Household smoking ban (p < .001) and only one smoker in the home (p = .005) were associated with lower levels of SHS in the home; race/ethnicity was not significant.
Conclusions—Differences in SHSE across race/ethnicity exist among children with asthma, possibly due to differential presence of a household smoking ban and number of smokers in the home.
Recommended Citation
Fedele, D. A., Erin Tooley, Andrew Busch, Elizabeth L. McQuaid, S. Katharine Hammond and Belinda Borrelli. 2016. "Comparison of secondhand smoke exposure in minority and nonminority children with asthma." Health Psychology 35: 115-122.
Comments
Published in: Health Psychology, Vol. 35, 2016.