What is it about?
Millions of children and others across the world are being dangerously exposed to tobacco smoke and toxins in their own homes. Whilst there is limited interest in laws and interventions controlling tobacco use in public places in Bangladesh, no attention has been given to preventing tobacco-use inside homes. This study explores the familial and socio-cultural factors that provide obstacles for ensuring tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh. This study revealed that the prevalence of tobacco-use in the home was 25.7% in urban residential areas in Bangladesh. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that familial and socio-cultural factors were significantly associated with tobacco-use at home: marital status (OR 3.23, 95% CI: 1.37–6.61), education (OR 2.14, 95% CI: 1.15–3.99), smoking habits of older family members (OR 1.81 95% CI: 0.91–2.89), tobacco being offered as hospitality and for entertainment (OR 1.85, 95% CI: .94–2.95) and lack of religiosity practice (OR 2.39, 95% CI: 1.27–4.54). Qualitative findings indicated that social customs, lack of religious practice, tobacco-use of older family members, and lack of family guidance were key obstacles for enabling tobacco-free homes in urban areas. Use of tobacco at home is continuing as part of established familial and socio-cultural traditions. If tobacco-use at home is not addressed seriously by the authorities then the emerging threat of second-hand smoke exposure and harmful consequences of tobacco- use will be exacerbated.
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Why is it important?
Bangladesh is one of the largest tobacco producing and consuming countries in the world and as a result, faces considerable health and economic consequences. Smoking in health care facilitates and educational institutions in Bangladesh, are prohibited by law, and there is a partial ban in public places. However, there is no national data available on SHS exposure among people in their own homes. More specially, before this study, we wouldn't know how different types of familial, social and cultural factors work as the obstacles in establishing the tobacco-free home in urban area generation after generation.
Perspectives
We found that the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) concluded that 100% smoke-free environments are the only proven way to adequately protect the health of people from the harmful effects of second hand tobacco smoke because no level of exposure is acceptable. Smoke-free laws have been positively associated with people quitting smoking and in preventing young people from initiating to smoke. However, existing tobacco control policies in Bangladesh are still not making any great inroads at the household level. This study first explored the prevailing familial and socio-cultural aspects of tobacco use in urban residential areas of Bangladesh and identify how these aspects act as obstacles for establishing tobacco-free homes.
Md. Imdadul Haque
Daffodil International University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Prevailing familial, social and cultural obstacles in keeping tobacco-free homes in urban areas of Bangladesh: A mixed-method study, PLOS One, August 2019, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220777.
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