Second Hand Smoke Exposure and Cigarette Smoking Among Latino Ethno-Cultural Groups in the United States.

The current study examined the association between home and occupational exposure with secondhand smoke (SHS) adult cigarette smoking (CSMK) behavior among a diverse Hispanic/Latino population living in four U.S. urban centers. Additionally, it evaluated the effect of gender on this association. The study’s conceptual framework was based on social cognitive and socio- and behavioral ecological theories. At this time, there is a paucity of research on the effect of SHS exposure on CSMK among Hispanics/Latinos residing in the United States, and how gender impacts this association. To address these gaps in the tobacco literature, the current cross-sectional observational study utilized baseline data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) (n=16,354, ages 18–74 years) using logistic regression. The findings showed that past and current SHS exposure was positively and significantly associated with adult current cigarette smoking (CCSMK). In addition, gender moderated this association. These data provide insight into the role played by past and current SHS exposure in the home and work environments on adult CSMK behavior, as well as the effect of gender, among ethno-culturally diverse Hispanics/Latinos.