Decrease in the prevalence of environmental tobacco smoke exposure in the home during the 1990s in families with children

OBJECTIVES: This study explored correlates with and changes in the prevalence of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure of children in the home. METHODS: We used multiple logistic regression to explore ETS exposures as reported in the 1992 and 2000 National Health Interview Survey. RESULTS: ETS exposure in homes with children declined from 35.6% to 25.1% (P <.001) between 1992 and 2000, whereas smoking prevalence declined 26.5% to 23.3%. Home ETS exposures were more prevalent among non-Hispanic Whites than among African Americans (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.702; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.614, 0.802), Asian Americans (AOR = 0.534; 95% CI = 0.378, 0.754), and Hispanics (AOR = 0.388; 95% CI = 0.294, 0.389). Exposures declined across all groups, with greater gains in higher education and income groups. CONCLUSIONS: Home ETS exposure declined sharply between 1992 and 2000, more than would be predicted by the decline in adult smoking prevalence.