RESUMEN
Objective: Exposure to tobacco smoke causes numerous health problems in children, and create burden on the population in terms of economy, morbidity and mortality. In order to protect the child from exposure to tobacco smoke in the outdoor environment, sufficient legislative enactments are available in Indian legislation. The objective of the present study is to investigate the fact that in absence of any specific laws stating about protection of children from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor environment, whether outdoor related legislations are sufficient to protect children from exposureand to explore the scope for enforcement of both state and central laws in improving health of children in India. Study design: The study considered cross-sectional survey data of Demographic and Health Survey Data on India, National Family and Health Survey fourth round (NFHS-4) for the year 2015-16 on Indian children (below age of four). Methods: Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of anti-smoking laws on the prevalence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) based on the place of residence, indoor tobacco smoke exposure and age of the child. Results: The results have shown an inclination of ARI among children in association with states having single law, rural area resident, exposure to indoor tobacco smoke and age of the child, both as independent or in combination are quite conspicuous, and are found to be underestimated. The logistic regression also revealed the influence of these factors both as independent and even in interaction with other. Conclusions: Legislative intervention through both at central (or national)and state levels through anti-smoking laws will decrease the indoor tobacco smoke exposure as a result ARI prevalence will also decrease among children in India.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Children who are exposed to tobacco smoke (ETS) are at risk for a variety of health issues. There are enough legislative provisions in Indian law to safeguard children from ETS in outdoor settings, but no such specific rules exist to shield them from exposure indoors. This study aimed to examine the trend in under-five children's exposure to indoor tobacco smoke over the course of a decade (from 2005 to 2016) in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS) for the years 2005-2006 (NFHS-3) and 2015-2016 (NFHS-4) on under-five children have been taken into consideration in cross-sectional analyses of the Demographic and Health Survey on India. Based on different sociodemographic factors, the propensity of indoor ETS among Indian children has been estimated and compared using both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence of indoor ETS among Indian children under the age of five has greatly risen over the past decade, rising from 4.12% to 52.70%. According to the findings, there has been a noticeable increase in every group of kids, regardless of their age, place of residence, geographic location, socioeconomic status, and literacy level of their mothers. CONCLUSION: In India, the incidence of indoor ETS among children under five has risen by 13 times in the last 10 years, endangering the country. As a result, the Indian government must prepare to take legislative action to safeguard children by passing laws that forbid smoking inside.