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Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Smoke-Free Policy Support Among Public Housing Authority Residents in Rural and Tribal Settings

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Abstract

Previous research has shown that multi-unit housing (MUH) residents are at risk of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, which can transfer between units. The purpose of this study was to determine SHS exposure and examine attitudes towards smoking policies among public housing authority (PHA) residents in rural and tribal settings. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 895 adult tenants (41 % response rate) living in PHA multiunit buildings in Montana in 2013. Our primary outcome was tenant support of smoke-free policies; our secondary outcome was exacerbation of child asthma symptoms due to SHS exposure. In 2014, we used multiple logistic regression models to test associations between independent variables and outcomes of interest. The majority (80.6 %) of respondents supported having a smoke-free policy in their building, with support being significantly higher among nonsmokers [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.2, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.5–11.6] and among residents living with children (aOR 2.9, 95 % CI 1.3–6.2). Tribal residents were as likely to support smoke-free policies as non-tribal residents (aOR 1.4; 95 % CI 0.5–4.0). Over half (56.5 %) of respondents reported SHS exposure in their home; residents in a building with no smoke-free policy in place were significantly more likely to report exposure (aOR 3.5, 95 % CI 2.2–5.5). SHS exposure was not significantly associated with asthma symptoms. There is a significant reduction in exposure to SHS in facilities with smoke-free policies and there is strong support for such policies by both tribal and non-tribal MUH residents. Opportunities exist for smoke-free policy initiatives in rural and tribal settings.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the faculty mentors from ICF International, and specifically George Rutherford, MD, for editorial assistance and consultation. This paper was supported in part by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Grant No. 2U58DP00197706). The findings and conclusions in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC supported staff training and technical assistance to aid in the development of this manuscript through a contract with ICF International (Contract No. 200-2011-F-42029).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, 1400 Broadway Street, Helena, MT, 59620, USA

    Lisa M. Schmidt, Alison A. Reidmohr, Steven D. Helgerson & Todd S. Harwell

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  1. Lisa M. Schmidt
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  2. Alison A. Reidmohr
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  3. Steven D. Helgerson
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  4. Todd S. Harwell
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Correspondence to Lisa M. Schmidt.

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Schmidt, L.M., Reidmohr, A.A., Helgerson, S.D. et al. Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Smoke-Free Policy Support Among Public Housing Authority Residents in Rural and Tribal Settings. J Community Health 41, 1116–1121 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0204-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0204-8

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