Home smoking bans and secondhand smoke exposure in Mexico and the US.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the association between home smoking ban status and home secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE) among Mexican-descent adults and children in three cities representing different levels of exposure to the California Tobacco Control Program.

METHOD

From 2003-2004, a cross-sectional tobacco survey was conducted with a population-based sample of Mexican-descent adults in San Diego, California (N=1103) and Mexican adults in Tijuana (N=398) and Guadalajara (N=400), Mexico.

RESULTS

After adjustment for demographic, behavioral, cultural, and contextual covariates, a complete home smoking ban was associated with Mexican American and Mexican adults and children being less likely to experience SHSE in the home compared to their counterparts with partial or no smoking restrictions. The association was significant across the three survey sites, but stronger in San Diego than in any of the two Mexican cities.

CONCLUSION

Home smoking bans reduce the risk of home SHSE among Mexican Americans and Mexicans, regardless of the smoking status of the household residents and other individual and environmental variables. Even if household residents continue smoking and communitywide tobacco control efforts are suboptimal, the promotion of home smoking bans can protect adults and children from home SHSE.