The Effect of Adult Smoking Behavior on Children's Exposure to Secondhand Smoke. An Analysis Based on Salivary Cotinine Levels Among Children in Dhaka and Karachi.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) risks children's health. However, biomarkers are rarely used to study SHS exposure among children in low- and middle-income countries.

Aims and methods

We analyzed cross-sectional data collected between March and November 2022 for a cluster-randomized controlled trial investigating a Smoke-Free Intervention in 2769 children aged 9-15 in 74 schools (34 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and 40 in Karachi, Pakistan). Children's saliva was tested for the concentration of cotinine-a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for SHS exposure. Based on their reports, children's homes were categorized as Nonsmoking Homes (NSH) when residents were nonsmokers; Smoke-free Homes (SFH) when residents and visitors smoked outdoors only; and Smoke-permitted

SUBMITTER: Siddiqi K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11494616 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature