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Youth exposure to in-vehicle second-hand smoke and their smoking behaviours: trends and associations in repeated national surveys (2006–2012)
  1. Benjamin Healey1,
  2. Janet Hoek2,
  3. Nick Wilson1,
  4. George Thomson1,
  5. Steve Taylor3,
  6. Richard Edwards1
  1. 1Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
  2. 2Department of Marketing, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  3. 3School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
  1. Correspondence to Dr Benjamin Healey, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, 23A Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand; Ben.healey{at}otago.ac.nz

Abstract

Objective To extend the limited international evidence on youth in-vehicle second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure by examining trends in New Zealand, a country with a national smoke-free goal and indoors smoke-free environment legislation.

Methods We tracked exposure rates and explored the associations between in-vehicle SHS exposure and smoking behaviours. In-home exposure was also examined for comparative purposes. Data were collected in annual surveys of over 25 000 year 10 school students (14–15-year olds) for a 7-year period (2006–2012). Questions covered smoking behaviour, exposure to smoking and demographics.

Results Youth SHS exposure rates in-vehicle and in-home trended down slightly over time (p<0.0001 for both) with 23% exposed in-vehicle in the previous week in 2012. However, marked inequalities in exposure between ethnic groups, and by school-based socioeconomic position, persisted. The strongest association with SHS exposure was parental smoking (eg, for both parents versus neither smoking in 2012: in-vehicle SHS exposure adjusted OR: 7.4; 95% CI: 6.5 to 8.4). After adjusting for seven other factors associated with initiation, logistic regression analyses revealed statistically significant associations of in-vehicle SHS exposure with susceptibility to initiation and smoking.

Conclusions The slow decline in SHS exposure in vehicles and the lack of progress in reducing relative inequalities is problematic. To accelerate progress, the New Zealand Government could follow the example of other jurisdictions and prohibit smoking in cars carrying children. Other major policy interventions, beside enhanced smoke-free environments, will also likely be required if New Zealand is to achieve its 2025 smoke-free nation goal.

  • Secondhand smoke
  • Disparities
  • Environment
  • Public policy

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