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Smoke free families project brief
Decreasing environmental tobacco smoke exposure among low income children: preliminary findings
  1. Melbourne F Hovella,
  2. Joy M Zakariana,
  3. Georg E Mattb,
  4. C Richard Hofstettera,
  5. J Thomas Bernertc,
  6. James Pirklec
  1. aCenter for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA, bDepartment of Psychology, San Diego State University, cDivision of Environmental Health Laboratory Sciences, NCEH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  1. Mel Hovell, PhD, MPH, Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, Graduate School of Public Health, SDSU, San Diego CA 92182, USA;hovell{at}mail.sdsu.edu

https://doi.org/10.1136/tc.9.suppl_3.iii70

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    Estimates suggest that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure may affect over 40% of children in the USA.1 ETS exposure is a known health risk, especially for young children.2-5 Previous studies have shown that reported ETS exposure can be reduced with counselling.6-8 However, no study has demonstrated reduced ETS exposure for low income and minority families, nor have beneficial effects been demonstrated by objective biological measures. Since low income and racial/ethnic minority populations may be at higher risk of exposure as well as at higher risk of inadequate medical/preventive services, testing means of reducing ETS exposure among these populations is critical from a public health and social justice perspective.9 10 The purpose of this trial was to test a revised in-person and telephone counselling program among low income, multiracial/ethnic families and to assess outcomes based on objective cotinine as well as parent reported exposure measures.

    Methods

    Smoking mothers and their babies (n = 108 families) were recruited from San Diego sites providing benefits through the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Screening forms were distributed to all adult clients during a nine month period. Of 1147 mothers who reported that they smoked and had children under the age of 4 years, research assistants were able to screen 832 by telephone. Of these, 162 (19.5%) qualified and were invited to participate in the study. Only 17.9% refused, and the first 108 who signed informed consents were enrolled. Eligibility criteria included English or Spanish language ability, mothers' reported smoking …

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