Abstract:

Objective   To investigate passive smoking conditions in rural residents, and further to provide the basis for developing policies and strategies of tobacco control and safeguarding health of non-smokers. Methods   A cross-sectional survey was carried out among rural residents aged 15 years or older in 9 villages located in Pinyin, Liangshan, and Junan counties of Shandong Province. Information on tobacco use and passive smoking was collected by face-to-face interviews using a compiled questionnaire based on the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). Results   The general passive smoking rate was 39.00%, with 38.26% for males and 39.35% for females. In the young group, males had a higher passive smoking rate than females, while the old group was the opposite. The passive smoking rate was higher in unmarried males (42.61%) and in married females (41.19%). And the passive smoking rate was higher in peasantworker for males (48.99%) and in business/service practitioners for females (46.42%). The main passive smoking site was the workplace for males (54.30%) and the home for females (88.31%). Conclusion   The passive smoking rate in these three counties is higher than in other places in Shandong Province. Though people realize the harm of active and passive smoking, few of them take action against smoking. More work needs to done in the future.

Key words: Passive smoking; Rural population; Cross-sectional study