Key findings from the 2009 New Zealand ... - Ministry of Health
Key findings from the 2009 New Zealand ... - Ministry of Health
Key findings from the 2009 New Zealand ... - Ministry of Health
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Chapter 10: Exposure to Second-hand Smoke<br />
Introduction<br />
The previous sections <strong>of</strong> this report focus on smokers and cover issues such as<br />
smoking prevalence, cigarette consumption, quitting, cessation and health service use.<br />
This section considers <strong>the</strong> exposure <strong>of</strong> non-smokers and children to second-hand<br />
smoke (SHS) in <strong>the</strong> home, car and workplace.<br />
SHS comes <strong>from</strong> two places: smoke brea<strong>the</strong>d out by <strong>the</strong> person who smokes, and<br />
smoke <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> a burning cigarette. Although both smokers and non-smokers<br />
can inhale SHS, this section focuses on <strong>the</strong> inhalation <strong>of</strong> SHS by non-smokers. Nonsmokers<br />
are people who at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>2009</strong> NZTUS did not smoke at all.<br />
Exposure to SHS causes premature death and disease in both children and adults.<br />
There is evidence that children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are at an<br />
increased risk for sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI, or cot death), chest<br />
infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma (US Department <strong>of</strong> <strong>Health</strong> and<br />
Human Services 2006). In non-smoking adults, second-hand smoke causes lung<br />
cancer and ischaemic heart disease (US Department <strong>of</strong> <strong>Health</strong> and Human Services<br />
2006). Research conducted in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> also found that exposure to SHS leads to<br />
an increased risk <strong>of</strong> stroke (Woodward and Laugesen 2001).<br />
Exposure to second-hand smoke at home<br />
Overall, 6.4% (5.5–7.4) <strong>of</strong> non-smokers were exposed to second-hand smoke in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
home in <strong>the</strong> past week. After adjusting for age, <strong>the</strong>re was no significant difference in<br />
<strong>the</strong> prevalence <strong>of</strong> second-hand smoke exposure in <strong>the</strong> home by sex.<br />
Exposure to second-hand smoke at home in <strong>the</strong> past week, by age group<br />
Exposure to second-hand smoke in <strong>the</strong> home in <strong>the</strong> past week was lower in <strong>the</strong> older<br />
age groups compared to <strong>the</strong> younger age groups (confirmed by logistic regression)<br />
(Figure 64).<br />
Tobacco Use in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> 91