A study of the prevalence, pattern and health effects of passive smoking in a slum area of Ahmedabad city.

ABSTRACT

Background: According to WHO, Passive smoking/ Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) carries serious risk especially for children & those chronically exposed. Objectives: To know the pattern of smoking, proportion of household passive smokers, subjective and health effects amongst passive smokers. Methods: The present study is a cross sectional study carried out in Shankar Bhuvan na Chhapara slum area of the Ahmedabad by using a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. A house to house survey was carried out to collect the information as per the format. Those households which were having at least one active tobacco smoker in any form, were included in study and all members of such households were surveyed.Results: Total 118 houses out of 250 total houses had at least one smoker in them and were covered in the survey. Total population surveyed was 683 out of which 131 were smokers and 552 were non-smokers. The ratio of active versus passive smokers in the survey population was 1 4.21. The mean age of smokers was 45.24+12.97 years whereas mean age of passive smokers was 20.13+14.44 years. The mean active smokers per family were 1.11 and passive smokers per family were 4.72. Firewood and kerosene were the most common fuels and majority of houses had no separate cooking area. Bidi was most commonly smoked stuff. Majority were chronic smokers and smoking on average 20.16+14.28 items per day. Amongst the subjective feelings unpleasant smell was present in 74% of respondents on acute exposure to tobacco smoke and coughing was the most common immediate symptom experienced by the passive smokers. Sixty nine percent children of less than 5 years of age had history of repeated Acute Respiratory Tract Infections as per mothers. Conclusions: Women and children are the victims of the exposure to ETS and indoor air pollution due to use of Bio-mass fuel and substandard housing add to this problem. Over and above that the immediate adverse subjective feelings amongst passive smokers are un-noticed and not given importance. All these are bared by the passive smokers constantly multiple times a day and may affect their mental health. The damage to physical health is a well known fact.