CHILDRENS EXPOSURE TO PARENTAL SMOKING IN WEST-GERMANY

In this study, we derive national estimates of the prevalence of children's exposure to parental smoking in West Germany. The estimates are based on a national health survey conducted in 1987 and refer to those parents living in the same household as the child. Estimated prevalences of maternal smoking range from 18.9% among children aged < 2 years to more than 30% among 2-5 and 6-13 year old children. Estimates of paternal smoking prevalence are considerably higher: 33.7% among children < 2 years old and 43.1% and 46.8% among 2-5 and 6-13 year old children, respectively. The prevalence of at least one smoking household member was 49.9% among 2-5 year old children, while a clear majority of children aged < 2 years (58.8%) and 6-13 (67.5%) were living in a household with at least one smoker. For all age groups, prevalence of maternal and paternal smoking was considerably higher among children of less-educated parents than among children of better-educated parents. Given the high prevalence of parental smoking and the association of parental smoking with a variety of respiratory diseases in children, a large proportion of these diseases could be prevented by efforts to reduce smoking among parents.