Trends in home smoking bans in the U.S.A., 1995-2007: prevalence, discrepancies and disparities.

BACKGROUND: Home smoking bans significantly reduce the likelihood of secondhand smoke exposure among children and non-smoking adults. The purpose of this study was to examine national trends in (1) the adoption of home smoking bans, (2) discrepancies in parental smoking ban reports and (3) household and parental correlates of home smoking bans among households with underage children from 1995 to 2007. METHODS: The authors used data from the 1995-1996, 1998-1999, 2001-2002, 2003 and 2006-2007 Tobacco Use Supplement of the US Current Population Survey to estimate prevalence rates and logistic regression models of parental smoking ban reports by survey period. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of a complete home smoking bans increased from 58.1% to 83.8% (p<0.01), while discrepancies in parental reports decreased from 12.5% to 4.6% (p<0.01) from 1995 to 2007. Households with single parent, low income, one or two current smokers, parents with less than a college education or without infants were consistently less likely to report a home smoking ban over this period (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite general improvements in the adoption of home smoking bans and a reduction on parental discrepancies, disparities in the level of protection from secondhand smoke have persisted over time. Children living in households with single parents, low income, current smoker parents, less educated parents or without infants are less likely to be protected by a home smoking ban. These groups are in need of interventions promoting the adoption of home smoking bans to reduce disparities in tobacco-related diseases.

Trends in cigarette smoking among high school youth in Wisconsin and the United States, 1993-2004.

Trends in current cigarette smoking among high school students in Wisconsin and the United States were examined using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and the Youth Tobacco Survey. Data were analyzed for years 1993 through 2004. Results of the analyses reveal an increasing prevalence in current smoking among high school youth in both Wisconsin and the United states during most of the 1990's, followed by a downward trend. During the period under consideration, peak prevalence is observed for the United States in 1997 (36.4%), with rates decreasing to 22.3% in 2004. In Wisconsin, rates peaked during 1999 (38.1%) and decreased to 20.9% in 2004. Subgroup analyses of Wisconsin data show similar rates of smoking among females (21.9%) and males (19.8%) in 2004. Analysis by grade demonstrate a narrowing of the gap between the oldest and the youngest grades over time, with all 4 grades displaying decreasing rates in current smoking. Overall, the findings are very positive, and suggest that efforts aimed at reducing tobacco use among our youth have been effective at both the state and national level. However, recent cuts in state and federal funding have led to reductions in tobacco control program initiatives. Thus, vigilant monitoring is crucial as we continue to work towards the "Healthy People 2010" goal that states that no more than 16% of high school students will report current cigarette use.