Smokers’ and non-smokers’ secondhand smoke experiences and interactions to reduce exposure in Armenia and Georgia

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Arusyak Harutyunyan, American University of Armenia; Varduhi Hayrumyan, American University of Armenia; Zhanna Sargsyan, American University of Armenia; Arevik Torosyan, National Institutes of Health (NIH); Ana Dekanosidze, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia; Michelle Keg-ler, Emory University; Michelle Kegler, Emory University; Lela Sturu, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia; Carla Berg, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-01-01
• Publisher: Tobacco Prevention and Cessation
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 European Publishing, unless otherwise stated.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.18332/TPC/131059
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Tobacco Prevention and Cessation
• Volume: 7
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 13
• Grant/Funding Information: C. Berg is also supported by other NCI funding (R01CA179422-01; PI: Berg; R01CA215155-01A1; PI: Berg; R01CA239178-01A1; MPIs: Berg, Levine; P30CA138292; PI: Curran) and the NIEHS/Fogarty (D43ES030927-01; MPIs: Berg, Marsit, Sturua).; This publication was supported by the Fogarty International Center/NIH (1R01TW010664-01; MPIs: Berg, Kegler).
• Keywords: low- and middle-income countries; smoke-free air policies; tobacco control; social norms; secondhand smoke
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety; Engineering, Environmental

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Armenia and Georgia have high rates of smoking and secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe). Greater progress in recent smoke-free legislation in Georgia and Armenia provides a pivotal time for examining the impact on smokers’ and non-smokers’ experiences and interactions regarding SHSe. METHODS Surveys were conducted in 28 communities in Armenia (n=705) and Georgia (n=751) in 2018 and assessed past 30-day SHSe and smoking in different contexts, as well as attitudes toward and interactions regarding SHSe. RESULTS In this sample (mean age 43.4 years, SD=13.5; 60.5% female; 27.3% smokers), SHSe among non-smokers was usually in homes (42.7%), cars (42.4%), and outdoor public places (38.2%); smokers also reported smoking usually in these places (70.0%, 62.1%, and 60.0%, respectively). Smokers indicated greater likelihood of putting out cigarettes and non-smokers indicated greater likelihood of asking smokers to put them out in places where smoking was prohibited versus allowed (76.5% vs 57.3%, and 46.6% vs 30.7%, respectively). Moreover, 89.9% of smokers indicated being very likely to put out cigarettes around small children if asked and 75.8% indicated trying to minimize SHSe. While 39.7% of participants reported seeing requests to smokers to put out cigarettes in the past 6 months, only 23.3% of smokers reported being asked to do so. Non-smokers in Georgia versus Armenia reported greater likelihood of engaging in behaviors to lower SHSe (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Smoke-free legislation may catalyze more behaviors to lower SHSe, particularly among non-smokers; however, private settings (e.g. homes) remain prominent SHSe sources. Public health efforts must consider implications of such policies on SHSe in private settings.