Exposure to secondhand smoke among adults – Philippines, 2009

Abstract

Introduction:We assessed the differences in exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among adults at home, in indoor workplaces, and in various public places in the Philippines across various sociodemographic groups. Methods: Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted in 2009 in the Philippines were used. The data consist of survey answers from 9705 respondents from a nationally representative, multistage probability sample of adults aged 15 years or older. We considered that respondents were exposed to SHS if during the previous 30 days they reported that they lived in a home, worked in a building, or visited a public place where people smoked. The public places included in our analysis were indoor workplaces, public transportation vehicles, restaurants, government buildings or offices, and healthcare facilities. The differences in various socioeconomic and demographic groups' exposure to SHS in these places were also examined. Results: Of respondents who reported working indoors, 36.8% were exposed to SHS. Men (43.3% [95% CI 39.7-46.9]) were more likely than women (28.8% [95% CI 25.4-32.4]) to be exposed to SHS (p < 0.001). Of those working in sites where smoking was not allowed, 13.9% were exposed to SHS, whereas 66.5% were exposed where smoking is allowed in some enclosed areas, and 90.7% were exposed where smoking is allowed everywhere. During the 30 days preceding the survey, more than 50% of those who took public transportation were exposed to SHS; exposure for those who visited public buildings was 33.6% in restaurants, 25.5% in government buildings or offices, and 7.6% in healthcare facilities. Conclusion: Despite a national law passed and several local government ordinances that have promulgated smoke-free workplaces, schools, government offices, and healthcare facilities, our findings show that a large proportion of adults were exposed to SHS at work and in public places, which offers opportunities to strengthen and improve enforcement of the smoke-free initiatives and ordinances in the

Better air but not for all? Changes in second-hand smoke exposure at workplaces in 29 European countries over 10 years

“…7 In addition to this, there is also a number of -mostly -considerably smaller studies from individual countries that explored the link between workplace-related smoking bans and SHS exposure. These also attest to a similar decrease in overall exposure over the years (for Japan: 10 ) as well as an inverse relationship between social status (for China: 20 ; for California: 21 ; for Myanmar: 22 , for the Philippines: 23 ; for Romania: 24 ) or workplace smoking bans (for China: 20 ; for Japan: 10 ; for Myanmar: 22 ; for the Philippines: 23 ; for South Korea: 25 ) on the one hand and SHS exposure on the other. No status-specific differences in exposure were found in studies from Greece 26 , Uruguay 6 , Mexico 6 and China 27 .…”

Decrease in Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Work and Public Places among Adults in the Philippines: An Analysis of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2009 and 2015

“…In the Philippines, an LMIC in Southeast Asia, SHS exposure differs by setting. In 2009, over half of adults and approximately 19 million children were exposed to SHS in the home [6,7]; over 30% of adults who worked outside the home were exposed to SHS [6,8,9]. In public places, over half of adults were exposed to SHS on public transportation, over 30% in restaurants, approximately 25% in government buildings, and less than 10% in healthcare facilities [6,8].…”

“…In 2009, over half of adults and approximately 19 million children were exposed to SHS in the home [6,7]; over 30% of adults who worked outside the home were exposed to SHS [6,8,9]. In public places, over half of adults were exposed to SHS on public transportation, over 30% in restaurants, approximately 25% in government buildings, and less than 10% in healthcare facilities [6,8]. By 2015, the prevalence of exposure to SHS among adults in any of those four public places had decreased by 17.2 percentage points [10].…”

“…As of December 2021, smoking was prohibited in some indoor public places and workplaces (e.g., government facilities, healthcare facilities, educational institutions), and most public transportation; however, designated smoking areas were still allowed in others (e.g., bars and nightclubs) [12]. over 30% in restaurants, approximately 25% in government buildings, and less than 10% in healthcare facilities [6,8]. By 2015, the prevalence of exposure to SHS among adults in any of those four public places had decreased by 17.2 percentage points [10].…”

“…Few published studies have assessed SHS exposure in the Philippines in the context of smoke-free policies. One study, published in 2013, used Philippines Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data collected four months after smoke-free regulations were expanded in 2009; it may have been too early to see the full effect [8]. Legislation introduced in subsequent years may also have affected SHS exposure since then.…”