Smokers' and Non-smokers' Secondhand Smoke Experiences and Interactions to Reduce Exposure in Armenia and Georgia

Overview

Journal Tob Prev Cessat

Date 2021 Feb 4

PMID 33537511

Citations 4

Authors

Arusyak Harutyunyan

Varduhi Hayrumyan

Zhanna Sargsyan

Arevik Torosyan

Ana Dekanosidze

Michelle Kegler

Lela Sturua

Carla J Berg

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Armenia and Georgia have high rates of smoking and secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe). Greater progress in recent smoke-free legislation in Georgia and Armenia provides a pivotal time for examining the impact on smokers' and non-smokers' experiences and interactions regarding SHSe.

Methods: Surveys were conducted in 28 communities in Armenia (n=705) and Georgia (n=751) in 2018 and assessed past 30-day SHSe and smoking in different contexts, as well as attitudes toward and interactions regarding SHSe.

Results: In this sample (mean age 43.4 years, SD=13.5; 60.5% female; 27.3% smokers), SHSe among non-smokers was usually in homes (42.7%), cars (42.4%), and outdoor public places (38.2%); smokers also reported smoking usually in these places (70.0%, 62.1%, and 60.0%, respectively). Smokers indicated greater likelihood of putting out cigarettes and non-smokers indicated greater likelihood of asking smokers to put them out in places where smoking was prohibited versus allowed (76.5% vs 57.3%, and 46.6% vs 30.7%, respectively). Moreover, 89.9% of smokers indicated being very likely to put out cigarettes around small children if asked and 75.8% indicated trying to minimize SHSe. While 39.7% of participants reported seeing requests to smokers to put out cigarettes in the past 6 months, only 23.3% of smokers reported being asked to do so. Non-smokers in Georgia versus Armenia reported greater likelihood of engaging in behaviors to lower SHSe (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Smoke-free legislation may catalyze more behaviors to lower SHSe, particularly among non-smokers; however, private settings (e.g. homes) remain prominent SHSe sources. Public health efforts must consider implications of such policies on SHSe in private settings.

Citing Articles

Factors associated with support for social enforcement of smoke-free policies in Georgia and Armenia.

LoParco C, Dekanosidze A, Torosyan A, Grigoryan L, Hayrumyan V, Sargsyan Z Tob Prev Cessat. 2024; 10.

PMID: 39185397 PMC: 11342805. DOI: 10.18332/tpc/191510.

The inclusion of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in smoke-free home and car rules: A cross-sectional survey of adults in Armenia and Georgia.

Hayrumyan V, Sargsyan Z, Torosyan A, Dekanosidze A, Grigoryan L, Alayan N Tob Induc Dis. 2024; 22.

PMID: 38835513 PMC: 11149400. DOI: 10.18332/tid/189200.

Examining local smoke-free coalitions in Armenia and Georgia: context and outcomes of a matched-pairs community-randomised controlled trial.

Berg C, Haardorfer R, Torosyan A, Dekanosidze A, Grigoryan L, Sargsyan Z BMJ Glob Health. 2024; 9(2).

PMID: 38325896 PMC: 10859987. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013282.

Smoke-free home restrictions in Armenia and Georgia: motives, barriers and secondhand smoke reduction behaviors.

Berg C, Dekanosidze A, Hayrumyan V, LoParco C, Torosyan A, Grigoryan L Eur J Public Health. 2023; 33(5):864-871.

PMID: 37500602 PMC: 10567255. DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad129.

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