Women exposed to second-hand smoke more at home than at workplace: An analysis of GATS Report, India, 2009–10

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoke has adverse health effects on women of the reproductive age group with serious health implications for the next generation. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the prevalence of current active smoking, second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure and the factors influencing smoke exposure in females of the reproductive age group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the nationally representative Global Adult Tobacco Survey-India (GATS 2009) was analyzed for socio demographic variables, tobacco-related variables and knowledge variables. RESULTS: 50.4% of the women in the reproductive age group had been exposed to SHS at home, though only 2.6% of the women were current active smokers. This was more than the SHS exposure at work (21.7%) and elsewhere (32.6%). SHS exposure of the women at home did not vary significantly with knowledge of adverse effects of smoking but was affected by the place of dwelling as the smoke exposure was found to be more among rural women. CONCLUSION: SHS exposure is more prevalent than current active smoking in women of the reproductive age group and that too at home. Thus, policies need to be framed in order to curb this menace which is a vicious one as women don’t really have an alternative as far as this exposure is concerned.