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. 2024 Feb 26;24(1):145.
doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02821-2.

Prevalence and factors associated with second hand smoke exposure among a sample of pregnant women in Cairo, Egypt

Elizabeth R Stevens  1 , Erin L Mead-Morse  2 , Kareem Labib  3 , Linda G Kahn  1   4 , Sugy Choi  1 , Scott E Sherman  1   5 , Cheryl Oncken  2 , Natasha J Williams  1 , Tom Loney  6 , Omar El Shahawy  7   8   9
Affiliations

Prevalence and factors associated with second hand smoke exposure among a sample of pregnant women in Cairo, Egypt

Elizabeth R Stevens et al. BMC Womens Health. .

Abstract

Purpose: This study estimated the prevalence of and factors associated with secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, and assessed attitudes and knowledge about SHS among pregnant women in Cairo, Egypt.

Methods: Pregnant women in the third trimester were recruited to participate in a survey assessing tobacco smoking and SHS exposure during their current pregnancy. Participants were recruited from three antenatal clinics in Cairo, Egypt, from June 2015 to May 2016. We examined differences in sociodemographic characteristics and SHS exposure, attitudes, and knowledge by smoking/SHS status. We used multivariable ordinary least squares regression to examine the association between husbands' smoking and pregnant women's mean daily hours of SHS exposure, adjusting for women's smoking status, age group, education, and urban (vs. suburban/rural) residence.

Results: Of two hundred pregnant women aged 16-37 years, about two-thirds (69%) had a husband who smoked tobacco. During their current pregnancy, most women reported being non-smokers (71%), and 38% of non-smokers reported being SHS-exposed. Non-smokers exposed to SHS tended to live in more rural areas and have husbands who smoked in the home. In adjusted analyses, having a husband who smoked was significantly associated with a greater mean number of hours of SHS exposure per day exposed, and this difference was driven by husbands who smoked in the home (p < 0.001). Women in the SHS-exposed group were less likely than other groups to agree that SHS exposure was harmful to their own or their future child's health; however, all groups agreed that SHS was harmful to newborn health.

Conclusion: Among our sample of pregnant women in Cairo, Egypt, there was a high rate of SHS exposure as well as misconceptions about the safety of SHS exposure to a developing fetus. Our findings suggest a need for targeted education and gender-sensitive messaging about SHS exposure, along with improved enforcement of existing tobacco control policies.

Keywords: Egypt; Hookah; Pregnancy; Second hand smoke exposure; Smoking; Smoking water pipes.

Plain language summary

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) remains a major contributor to health problems in pregnant women and their children. Using a survey, this study sought to estimate how many pregnant women in Cairo Metropolitan Area, Egypt, were exposed to SHS and the factors contributing to that exposure, and to assess attitudes towards SHS. During their current pregnancy, 38% of non-smokers reported being exposed to SHS. Non-smokers exposed to SHS tended to live in more rural areas and have husbands who smoked in the home. Having a husband who smoked as well as a husband who smoked in the home was significantly associated with a greater average number of SHS exposure hours per day. Women in the SHS-exposed group were less likely than other groups to agree that SHS exposure was harmful to their own or their future child’s health; however, all groups agreed that SHS was harmful to newborn health. Among pregnant women in Cairo, Egypt, there is a high rate of SHS exposure—often driven by SHS exposure in the home—as well as misconceptions about the safety of SHS exposure to a developing fetus. There is a need for targeted education and gender-sensitive messaging about SHS exposure along, with improved enforcement of existing tobacco control policies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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