Introduction: To assess 10-year trends (2010-2020) in household secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) from inside their own homes and from their neighbours in Hong Kong adolescents and analyse changes by socioeconomic status (SES).
Methods: Data from the 2010 to 2020 School-based Smoking Survey among Students (total responses were 228,623) were analysed in 2023. Weighted prevalence and temporal trends of SHSe were calculated across years. Prevalence differences and prevalence ratios were used to assess SES disparities. Poisson regression models with robust standard errors were used for trend analysis.
Results: From 2010 to 2020, the prevalence of SHSe from inside students' homes and from their neighbours increased by 26.8% (from 23.5% to 29.8%) and 142.3% (from 16.8% to 40.7%), respectively. Any household SHSe from these sources increased from 33.2% to 58.5%. The prevalence of home SHSe was significantly higher in 2018 and 2020 compared to 2010. Neighbour SHSe showed a continuous upward trend throughout the period. Students with lower parental education levels and from poorer families were more exposed, with disparities by parental education widening in 2018.
Conclusions: Household SHSe in Hong Kong adolescents has increased in recent years, with persistent socioeconomic disparities and a widening in 2018. Targeted policies, such as home smoking bans, are needed to protect adolescents from SHSe and reduce socioeconomic disparities.
Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.