Socio-demographic characteristics of passive smokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke and the influence of community-based interventions on its reduction in Isfahan, Najaf Abad and Arak

Introduction: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) inhaled by passive smokers cause health problems such as lung cancer, ischemic heart disease and asthma in adults and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, fetal growth retardation and neurodevelopment problems in children. The goal of this study was to determine socio-demographic characteristics of passive smokers exposed to ETS and evaluate community-oriented intervention effects on reduction of ETS in cities of Isfahan, Najaf Abad and Arak. Methods: This study is a part of Isfahan healthy heart program (IHHP) in which 12600 adult and 4000 children and adolescents residing in cities of Isfahan, Najaf Abad and Arak were selected via multistage sampling. Demographic data, duration of exposure to cigarette smoke and place of exposure information were collected by standardized questionnaire. Community-based interventions for reduction of ETS in passive smokers were implanted in Isfahan and Najaf Abad as cases to be compared with Arak as control. Data were analyzed using t-test, Chi-square test and ANOVA, Via SPSS statistical software. Results: During 3 consecutive years of evaluation, frequency of ETS shows a remarkable decrease in the case and control cities (P<0.0001). Mean ETS exposure time in minute per week reduced significantly in case and control cities after intervention years. ETS inhalation was noticeably higher in singles, divorced and university students than others (P<0.0001). Conclusion: The considerable high prevalence of ETS exposure in age group of the juvenile, students and unmarried individuals indicate that their household, educational and vocational environments are polluted and this can facilitate confronting diseases and potentially regarding active smokers. Extensive interventions regarding reduction of this trend should be a priority of community health programs.