Knowledge of secondhand smoke and behaviour towards its exposure among teachers in Mauritius

Abstract

INTRODUCTION A literature review has revealed an absence of studies investigating the knowledge and behaviour of teachers towards secondhand smoke (SHS). This study was thus designed with the following objectives: 1) Assess the knowledge of SHS among primary school teachers, 2) Determine their behaviour towards SHS, and 3) Identify any relationship between knowledge and behaviour of participants. METHODS A national cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample from 28 primary schools in all four educational zones of Mauritius in 2017. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from primary school teachers. Data analysis was performed on 389 questionnaires. RESULTS The mean knowledge score was found to be 28.9 (SD=4.8), which is just above the threshold score (>27) for good knowledge. Less than two-thirds of the participants (63.2%) were in the 'good knowledge' category. The mean behaviour score was found to be 26.6 (SD=6.8), which is situated in the range for 'satisfactory behaviour' in terms of avoiding SHS. Pearson correlation testing revealed a significant association between knowledge of SHS and behaviour towards exposure to SHS. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that nearly two-thirds of teachers had good knowledge of the health dangers of SHS and applied this knowledge in their behaviour by keeping away from cigarette smoke.

Predictors of smoking exposure in non-smoking adolescents in Indonesia

“…The results of this study align with studies conducted in West Africa, 9,38,40 Bangladesh, 41 and India. 42 However, the results of this study contrast with other studies, such as those in Medina, 39 Africa, 43,44 India, 45,46 China, 47 and Vietnam 48 which stated that having knowledge was associated with reduced exposure to secondhand smoke. The results of this study indicate that almost all adolescents are aware of the dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke for their health, but very few take proactive action to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke as a whole.…”

Beliefs of parents in Kuwait about thirdhand smoke and its relation to home smoking rules: A cross-sectional study

“…Increased knowledge and beliefs about the harm of ETS exposure have been reported to be associated with protective behaviors, such as smoke-free home rules and avoiding exposure to ETS [18][19][20][21] . Protano et al 22 have assessed the association between homesmoking rules and urinary cotinine concentrations in children, and reported that ETS exposure level (as measured by urinary cotinine concentration) increased among children as home-smoking rules were more permitting.…”

Preventable Deaths Attributable to Second-Hand Smoke in Southeast Asia—Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

“…Another study of high school students found that while most students (99%) knew about the harms of tobacco, very few (25%) knew about tobacco product laws [ 23 ]. Several studies also found that higher educated groups may possess a higher level of knowledge of SHS compared to the general population [ 24 , 25 ]. A limited number of studies on SHS avoidance showed a significant correlation between knowledge of SHS harm and the likelihood of avoiding SHS exposure [ 24 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…Several studies also found that higher educated groups may possess a higher level of knowledge of SHS compared to the general population [ 24 , 25 ]. A limited number of studies on SHS avoidance showed a significant correlation between knowledge of SHS harm and the likelihood of avoiding SHS exposure [ 24 , 26 , 27 ]. Improved knowledge can empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health and minimize the risks associated with SHS exposure.…”