Abstract
BACKGROUND: Second-hand smoke (SHS) accounts for 0.9 million deaths and 24 million disability adjusted life years annually. SHS exposure has been associated to a wide range of diseases thus far, with the majority of studies focused on the link between SHS exposure and the development of cardiovascular disorders or lung cancer. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of SHS exposure and identify its sociodemographic correlates among nonsmokers and also to assess knowledge and attitude toward SHS among nonsmokers in adults. METHODOLOGY: The study included 400 subjects where 200 each was recruited from rural and urban areas. Twenty were selected randomly using survey registers from each of the ten subcentes from rural areas. From urban areas, 66 subjects were selected randomly from three urban health posts. Data collection included information that was recorded on a predesigned, pretested semistructured interview schedule. RESULTS: The prevalence of second-hand exposure at home was found to be 44% and 54% in urban and rural areas, respectively, whereas at workplaces, it was found to be 50.5% and 60.9%. It also reflected SHS exposure at home is significantly associated with study area, age category, occupation, and education, while SHS exposure at workplaces is significantly associated with occupation, education, and socioeconomic scale. CONCLUSION: The study highlights a high prevalence of second-hand smoke exposure among nonsmokers in both rural and urban areas, particularly at home and workplaces. Sociodemographic factors such as age, occupation, education, and socioeconomic status significantly influence SHS exposure. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions, including awareness campaigns and policy enforcement, to reduce SHS exposure and protect nonsmokers from its harmful effects.