AWARENESS OF HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND SMOKE FROM CIGARETTES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF HEALTH CARE PERSONALS IN ISFAHAN- IRAN

Background and Aim : Cigarette smoking whether actively or passively is a growing public health problem. Despite the wealth of information on the hazards of active cigarette smoking, awareness of the health effects of passive smoking on human population is often neglected in Iran. The study was aimed at describing the awareness of health effects of exposure to (second and third ) hand smoke from cigarettes among never-smoked adult health care personals in Isfahan. Methods : A health center-based study carried out on a cross-section of 1508 healthcare in Iran. Data were collected using pretested, structured, questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS0. Bivariate analysis involving Chi-square test was used to test for significance of association between categorical variables at P < 0.05.Results : One thousands and fifteen one physician, nurses and health care personal (mean duration of employment was 13.34± 3.48 years) with mean age of 41.57 ± 9.94 were chosen as a study group from all personals in the health center(2209). The age of the respondents ranged from 18 to 74 years, with a mean age of 36 ± 12.4 years. There were 1181 (78.3 %) females with 327 (21.7 %) males. Awareness of general health effects of secondhand smoke on adults, children, and pregnant women was 95.6%, 92.8%, and 65.2%, respectively. Conclusion : The most common health effects of secondhand smoke the respondents had highest awareness were lung cancer, precipitation of asthmatic attacks, and delivery of small babies in adults, children, and obstetric population, respectively. Awareness of general health effects on adults, children, and obstetrics population was significantly associated with exposure status

کلیدواژه ها:

Awareness ، Cigarettes ، Health care ، Secondhand smoke