Prevalence, Sources, and Correlates of Second-hand Smoke Exposure Among Non-smoking Pregnant Women in India.

Abstract

Objective: Second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) is a proven risk factor for negativeadverse health outcomes, especiallyparticularly among pregnant women. This study aimsaimed to address the research gap onconcerning the prevalence and correlates of SHS exposure at home and outsidein public settings among non-smoking pregnant women in India.

Methods: The dataset offrom the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) (2016-2017), India, was usedutilised to determineevaluate the prevalence of SHS exposuresexposure in pregnant women both at home and outside.in public spaces. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was usedemployed to identify the determinants of SHS exposure among pregnant women. this population.

Results: The prevalence of SHS exposure in theat home was 37% and %, while exposure outside the home was 27%. 10% of allAmong non-smokersmoking pregnant women, 10% were exposed to SHS inon public transport. The risk of SHS exposure in theat home was significantly higher forin the North (AOR-=5.33:; 95% CI-, 2.45-11.60), Central (AOR-=4.46; 95% CI-, 1.98-10.02)), and North-East (AOR-=4.18; 95% CI-, 1.78-9.81) regions compared to the South. Pregnant women aged 25-34 (AOR-=0.61; 95% CI-, 0.39-0.93) and those aged 35 and above (AOR-=0.48; 95% CI-, 0.27-0.86), as well as those with secondary (AOR-=0.50; 95% CI-, 0.30-0.85) or higher education (AOR-=0.30; 95% CI-, 0.15-0.58)), had lower odds of SHS exposuresexposure at home. For SHS exposure outside homes,the home, the North region (AOR-=2.53; 95% CI-, 1.19-5.36), employment status (AOR-=1.99; 95% CI-, 1.13-3.47), and belonging to scheduled tribes (AOR-=3.20; 95% CI-, 1.25-8.21) had were associated with higher odds.

Conclusions: The prevalence of SHS exposure among pregnant non-smoking women was high at home as well as outside. SHS exposure at home was significantly associated with age, education, and region. SHS exposure outside homes was significantly associated with employment status, scheduled tribe, and regionnotably high both at home and in external environments.