A study co-authored by researchers from the Department of Community Health Sciences and
\nMedicine at the Aga Khan University has discovered the presence of second-hand smoking
\n(SHS) in an alarming 95% of children in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
\nSHS occurs when people around an active smoker inhale the exhaled tobacco fumes coming
\nfrom the smoker. This highlights the deeply disturbing ripple effect of smoking, which can
\npenetrate through different social spaces, especially in places where poor smoking restrictions
\nare in place.
\nThe level of SHS exposure in Dhaka and Karachi, the two study sites indicate widespread and
\nunrestricted smoking, according to the researchers. The findings, published in the Nicotine and
\nTobacco Research Journal, provide evidence for extremely high level of SHS exposure in Karachi,
\nPakistan where nearly all (99.4%) of the children were found exposed to SHS, the majority of
\nwhich is perpetuated through male-dominated smoking cultures.
\nThe research team conducted a survey on 2769 children aged 9-14 from 74 primary schools in
\nDhaka and Karachi to assess their exposure to SHS. To measure the exposure, they tested their
\nsaliva to see if it contained\u00a0cotinine. They examined the association between the adult smoking
\nbehaviours of residents and visitors at homes and salivary cotinine levels in children in both
\ncities. Compared to children living with non-smokers, those living with adult smokers had
\nhigher levels of SHS exposure. Similarly, children living in houses permitting indoor smoking
\nhad slightly higher levels of SHS exposure than those houses where smoking was not permitted.
\n\u201cThis research findings are really alarming. If we cannot protect the children from SHS
\nexposure, they will develop increased risk of respiratory infections and associated deaths and
\nwill be at risk of lower academic performance and a high rate of smoking uptake in later life\u201d,
\nsaid Professor Rumana Huque, from ARK Foundation, and a co-author of the paper. Dr Romaina
\nIqbal, and Prof Javaid Khan from the Aga Khan University, Pakistan pointed out that, \u201cThe high
\nexposure of children to SHS is in contrast to figures from many developed countries where only
\na minority of children are now exposed to such risks.\u201d
\nThe effects of second-hand smoking have been long observed and analysed by scientists around
\nthe world, and are nothing short of horrendous. It has been proven to add to a variety of
\nrespiratory tract infections and lung infections of in newborns, infants, and children right up to
\nthe age of adolescence. Moreover, research suggests that children born with hereditary
\ndisorders are less likely to survive when exposed to second-hand smoke and may lead to . They
\nmay also experience higher levels of ENT fluid build-ups, asthma scares, and demonstrate an
\nincreased frequency of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). \u201cThis research findings are really
\nalarming. If we cannot protect the children from SHS exposure, they will develop increased risk
\nof respiratory infections and associated deaths and will be at risk of lower academic
\nperformance and a high rate of smoking uptake in later life\u201d, said Professor Rumana Huque,
\nfrom ARK Foundation, Bangladesh and a co-author of the paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to advocate for smoke-free homes and cars to protect children from SHS
\nexposure. However, in addition to these initiatives, it is also important to enforce smoking bans
\nin public places and transportation, especially those public spaces that children frequently visit,
\nsuch as playgrounds, parks and fairgrounds. It is essential to complement smoking restrictions<\/p>\n
with tobacco cessation advice and support in these settings,\u201d said Professor Kamran Siddiqi,
\nfrom University of York, UK, and the Chief Investigator of the study.
\nThe research team called for a comprehensive approach to protect the children from this harm,
\nsmoking restrictions in households and enforcement of smoking bans in public places.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A study co-authored by researchers from the Department of Community Health Sciences and Medicine at the Aga Khan University has discovered the presence of second-hand smoking (SHS) in an alarming 95% of children in Pakistan and Bangladesh. SHS occurs when people around an active smoker […]<\/p>\n
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