Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: A
feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;)
concentrations following an educational feedback
intervention to create smoke-free homes during the
COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Despite the health risks associated with second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure, smoking in the home is common in Malaysia, and almost exclusively a male behaviour. This study explored male smokers’ knowledge, beliefs and behaviours related to SHS exposure and smoking in the home, to guide future intervention development. Methods Twenty-four men who smoked and lived in Klang Valley, Kuantan or Kuala Terengganu took part in semi-structured interviews which explored knowledge and beliefs regarding SHS in the home, and associated home smoking behaviours. Data were managed and analysed using the framework approach. Results There was limited knowledge regarding the health risks associated with SHS: the smell of SHS in the home was a more prominent concern in most cases. Many had no rules in place restricting home-smoking, and some suggested that smoking in specific rooms and/or near windows meant SHS was not ‘shared’ with other household members. A few fathers had created but not maintained a smoke-free home prior to and/or after their children were born. Desire to smoke in the home conflicted with men’s sense of responsibility as the head of the household to protect others and set a good example to their children. Conclusions Men’s home-smoking behaviours are shaped by a lack of understanding of the health risks associated with SHS exposure. Gaining a broader understanding of the factors that shape men’s decisions to create a smoke-free home is important to facilitate the development of culturally-appropriate interventions that address their responsibility to protect other household members from SHS exposure. Implications Our findings highlight the need for public information campaigns in Malaysia to educate men who smoke regarding the health harms associated with SHS in the home and the ways in which SHS travels and lingers in household air. This is important given men’s concerns about SHS often focus on the smell of cigarette smoke in the home. Our findings suggest a number of potential avenues for future intervention development, including household and community-level initiatives which could build on men’s sense of responsibility as the head of the household and/or their general desire to protect their family.

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“… 27 Additional work conducted as part of this study suggests this approach also shows promise in a Malaysian context. 28 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors Related to Secondhand Smoke and Smoking in the Home: A Qualitative Study With Men in Malaysia

Syazmeen

Rani

Zulkifli

et al. 2022

Nicotine &Amp; Tobacco Research

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Communities facilitating increasing smoke-free homes (CO-FRESH): co-developing an intervention with local stakeholders in Indonesia and Malaysia

O’Donnell,

Bintoro,

Rustandi

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Introduction: Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke generates a considerable health burden globally. In south-east Asia, most of that burden falls on women and children who are exposed to second-hand smoke from male smoking in their home. Interventions to encourage smoke-free homes have tended to target smokers individually or within their family unit, although some evidence suggests a community-wide approach holds promise. This study co-developed an intervention toolkit that could be applied to small village/town communities in Indonesia and Malaysia. Methods: The CO-FRESH study used four work packages to: (i) create online training materials to equip local health professionals to tackle smoking in the home; (ii) create a local public information campaign on the benefits of a smoke-free home; (iii) establish methods to provide household air quality feedback to highlight the impact of smoking in the home; and (iv) map local existing services to support families to create smoke-free homes. Results: Four specific communities (two in each country) were involved in intervention development. Training materials for health professionals and a toolkit for use by communities to encourage smoke-free homes were co-created. Communities welcomed the concept of tackling smoking in the home, however there was a lack of knowledge about how second-hand smoke moved around the home and could enter indoor spaces from outdoor smoking. The concept of a smoke-free home was often misunderstood, alongside what constitutes indoor versus outdoor space. In addition, findings of high background air pollution levels mean that household air quality measurement may not be suited to providing second-hand smoke information in these communities. Conclusions: Communities in Malaysia and Indonesia recognised the importance of reducing smoking in the home, and welcomed the approach of co-developing community-wide methods of tackling the issue. The CO-FRESH toolkit requires evaluation to determine effectiveness and how it can be implemented at scale.

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Knowledge, beliefs, perceptions and barriers related to implementing smoke-free home practices in two rural settlement areas in Malaysia

Kamni,

Saiful Bahron,

Zulkifli

et al. 2024

Tob. Prev. Cessation

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Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: A feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 3 publications

References 21 publications

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors Related to Secondhand Smoke and Smoking in the Home: A Qualitative Study With Men in Malaysia

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors Related to Secondhand Smoke and Smoking in the Home: A Qualitative Study With Men in Malaysia

Communities facilitating increasing smoke-free homes (CO-FRESH): co-developing an intervention with local stakeholders in Indonesia and Malaysia

Knowledge, beliefs, perceptions and barriers related to implementing smoke-free home practices in two rural settlement areas in Malaysia

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