Key findings from the 2009 New Zealand ... - Ministry of Health

Exposure to second-hand smoke at the workplace in the past month
Overall, 4.5% (3.7–5.4) of non-smokers were exposed to second-hand smoke indoors,
at their workplace, in the past month. After adjusting for age, males were more than
twice as likely (6.4%, 5.0–7.9) as females (2.6%, 1.6–3.6) to be exposed to secondhand
smoke indoors at their workplace.
There were no significant differences by age group.
Exposure to second-hand smoke at the workplace in the past month, by ethnic
group
Table 18 gives an indication of the prevalence of second-hand smoke exposure indoors
at the workplace in the past month, among non-smokers, by ethnic group.
Table 18: Exposure to second-hand smoke indoors at the workplace, in the past month,
among non-smokers aged 15–64 years, by ethnic group, 2009 (unadjusted
prevalence)
Ethnic group Prevalence (95% CI) Number
European/Other 4.4 (3.4–5.4) 56,500
Māori 9.9 (6.0–13.7) 12,500
Pacific 8.3 (5.0–13.0) 5200
Asian 4.0 (2.3–6.5) 7900
Source: 2009 New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey
Note: Total response ethnicity has been used.
After adjusting for age, Māori non-smokers were found to be nearly two-and-a-half times
more likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke indoors at work in the past month than
non-smokers in the total population (Figure 72). There were no other significant
differences by ethnic group.
102 Tobacco Use in New Zealand