Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

Original Article

Prevalence, Sources, and Correlates of Second-hand Smoke Exposure Among Non-smoking Pregnant Women in India: Farheen Ahmed, Nilesh Gawde, Sulabha Parasuraman; J Prev Med Public Health. 2025;58(2):136-145. Published online December 4, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.24.278

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Objectives
Second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) is a risk factor for adverse health outcomes, particularly among pregnant women. This study aimed to address the research gap concerning the prevalence and correlates of SHS exposure at home and in public settings among non-smoking pregnant women in India.
Methods
The dataset from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2016-17), India, was utilised to evaluate the prevalence of SHS exposure in pregnant women both at home and in public spaces. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the determinants of SHS exposure among this population.
Results
The prevalence of SHS exposure at home was 36.9%, while exposure outside the home was 26.5%. Among non-smoking pregnant women, 10.0% were exposed to SHS on public transport. The risk of SHS exposure at home was significantly higher in the North (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.45 to 11.60), Central (aOR, 4.46; 95% CI, 1.98 to 10.02), and Northeast (aOR, 4.18; 95% CI, 1.78 to 9.81) regions compared to the South. Pregnant women aged 25-34 (aOR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.93) and those aged 35 and above (aOR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.86), as well as those with secondary (aOR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.85) or higher education (aOR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.58), had lower odds of SHS exposure at home. For SHS exposure outside the home, the North region (aOR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.19 to 5.36), employment status (aOR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.47), and belonging to scheduled tribes (aOR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.25 to 8.21) were associated with higher odds.
Conclusions
The prevalence of SHS exposure among pregnant non-smoking women was notably high both at home and in external environments.

Summary

Key Message
Our secondary analysis of GATS-2 India data (2016-17) showed that the prevalence of Second-hand Tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure at home was high (36.9%) among non-smoking pregnant women in India. Among pregnant women, younger age, lower education levels, and residing in the country's North, Central, and Northeast regions were significantly associated with higher odds of SHS exposure at home. Overall, about a quarter (26.5%) of pregnant women reported SHS exposure outside their home. Tribal women, employed ones, and those residing in the North region were at higher risk of SHS exposure outside their homes during their pregnancies.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Household secondhand smoke exposure and lung cancer risk among never-smoking women: a literature review
Ali Hussein Choker
International Journal of Environmental Health Research.2026; : 1. CrossRef

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