RELATIONSHIP OF PARENTS’ SMOKING HABITS AND PRESENCE OF NICOTINE IN THE CHILD’S BODY

Cilj: Cilj istraživanja je utvrditi povezanost pušačkih navika roditelja s prisutnošću nikotina u tijelu djeteta. Ispitanici su hospitalizirana djeca i roditelj u pratnji. Metode: Anketirano je 100 roditelja, a kod 100 djece je proveden kotininski test. Podatci su statistički obrađeni na povezanost prisutnosti nikotina u tijelu djeteta s pušačkim navikama njihovih roditelja. Rezultati: Prema mjestu stanovanja dominiraju ispitanici iz grada uz istovremeno veći udio s negativnim kotininskim testom (75,3 %), dok je u ruralnim područjima veći udio djece izložen duhanskom dimu (51,4 %), uz statističku značajnost (p=0,015). Veći udio roditelja s visokom stručnom spremom pretežno manje izlaže djecu dimu cigareta, a dokazana je značajno veća izloženosti djece roditelja s nižom razinom obrazovanja (p=0,041). Slabije materijalno stanje povezano je s češćim pušenjem roditelja (p=0,039). Kod roditelja koji puše u prisutnosti djece (88 %) nije utvrđena statistička značajnost u odnosu na rezultate kotininskog testa. Broj popušenih cigareta kao ni zabrinutost za štetne učinke na vlastito zdravlje i zdravlje djece nemaju statističku značajnost u odnosu na rezultate kotininskog testa. Duhanskom su dimu značajno češće izložena djeca čiji drugi roditelj nikada nije prestao pušiti ili je takav pokušaj bio neuspješan (p=0,009). Zaključak: Utvrđena je značajna povezanost između nekih pušačkih navika roditelja i rezultata kotininskog testa u urinu njihove djece. Udio pozitivnih nalaza u urinu djece značajno je veći među djecom u najranijoj životnoj dobi, što ukazuje na njihovu veliku izloženost duhanskom dimu unutar obitelji.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association of parents’ smoking habits with the presence of nicotine in the child’s body. Methods: In order to collect the respective data, a suitable survey was conducted at the Srebrnjak Children’s Hospital in Zagreb. Respondents were hospitalized children and a parent accompanying the child. A total of 100 parents were interviewed, and their hospitalized children were subjected to a cotinine test to objectively determine nicotine exposure. Data were statistically processed to identify the possible differences with respect to some socioeconomic characteristics of parents and the signifi cance of the association of nicotine in the child’s body with their parents’ smoking habits. The inclusion criterion was that at least one parent was a smoker. Results: The results showed the urban place of residence to predominate and had a higher proportion of negative cotinine test (75.3%), whereas the majority of children from rural areas were exposed to tobacco smoke (51.4%), at the level of statistical signifi cance (p=0.015). The rate of positive cotinine test was signifi cantly higher in children whose parents were divorced. A higher proportion of parents with university degree were less exposed to cigarette smoke, and statistical signifi cance was found in the children of parents with lower levels of education (p=0.041), which proved that children of parents with lower levels of education were more exposed to tobacco smoke. Poor socioeconomic status signifi cantly affected smoking habits (p=0.039), i.e. there were more smokers among these parents. There was no statistically signifi cant difference in the children’s cotinine test results between the parents smoking in the presence of children (88%) indoors or outdoors. The number of cigarettes smoked, or concern about adverse effects on one’s own or children’s health were not statistically signifi cant in relation to the cotinine test results. The children whose other parent had never quit or had failed to quit smoking were signifi cantly more frequently exposed to tobacco smoke (p=0.009). The proportion of positive urine fi ndings was signifi cantly higher in children at an early age, indicating their high exposure to tobacco smoke within their families. Conclusion: Study results revealed a statistically signifi cant association between parents’ smoking habits and cotinine test results in their children’s urine