The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Households are the least regulated area of potential tobacco exposure. The objective is to identify determinants of SHS exposure and household smoking restriction.

Methods: Data from the national survey conducted in June 2005.

Results: Majority of population in Ukraine (53%) is exposed to environmental tobacco smoke on at least a daily basis. Logistic regression of this exposure showed the following predictors. At workplaces, compared to unrestricted smoking, risk of daily ETS exposure significantly decreased if smoking was totally forbidden (OR=0,504 95% CI 0,335-0,758) or restricted to isolated premises (OR=0,622 95% CI 0,442-0,873). Non-isolated smoking premises at work did not influence ETS exposure significantly (OR=0,806 95% CI 0,544-1,195). If smoking colleagues were specified, risk increased (OR=1,546 95% CI 1,033-2,315). Household smoking restrictions were important as well. But compared to unrestricted smoking only absence of smokers in the household (OR=0,159 95% CI 0,077-0,327) and smokers forced to smoke outdoors (OR=0,461 95% CI 0,222-0,960) significantly decreased the exposure. Smoking at the stairs, balcony, selected premises of the household did not influence the risk of exposure. Chances of household smoking restrictions were naturally associated with the smoking status of respondent and presence of other smokers in the family. Smoking was better controlled in the households in towns and villages compared to cities and if children lived in the family. Yet chances of household smoking restrictions significantly increased if people reported smoking restricted to isolated premises at their workplaces (OR=1,437 95% CI 1,030-2,005). Thus smoke-free workplace legislation can also decrease smoke exposure at households.