Abstract:
Objective To investigate the knowledge,attitude and behavior about smoking and second hand smoke(SHS) among smokers who have under five children at home in downtown Shanghai area, in order to develop tobacco control strategies.
Methods A total of 572 smokers who were living with children under five year old in two communities of downtown Shanghai were surveyed by using a structured questionnaire for the purpose of data collection at baseline.
Results Most smokers smoked in their households, but most(79.60% of father smoker's and 82.10% of the other smoker's)of them did not smoke in the front of(or in the presence of)their children. The level of exposure to SHS among children was significantly associated with household smoking rules and attitudes towards household smoking policy. Smokers' knowledge about the hazards of SHS was adequate but not enough, there still exist rooms for further improvement. About 86.80% father smokers and 86.62% other smokers did not try to quit smoking during the last year.
Conclusion Public health campaign should educate father smokers about the hazards of smoking and second hand smoke exposure to child's health. Interventions should target smokers who have intention to quit and those who do not have intention to quit with different strategies.