Smoke-Free Policies in the Workplace and in the Home among American Indians

J Health Dispar Res Pract. 2012 Jan 1;5(2):7.

Abstract

Objectives: American Indians are more likely to smoke, less likely to have smoke-free homes, and potentially less likely to have worksite smoke-free policies. We examined correlates of smoke-free policies at home and work among a community-based sample of American Indians in the Midwest.

Methods: We examined correlates of smoke-free policies at home and work in a sample of American Indians in the Midwest using a community-based participatory research approach.

Results: 66.7% were nonsmokers, 15.6% smoked on some days, and 17.6% smoked every day. The majority (72.4%) had complete smoke-free home policies, 13.1% had partial restrictions, and 14.5% had no rules. Moreover, 62.7% had complete smoke-free worksite policies, 27.9% had partial policies, and 9.4% had no worksite smoke-free policies. Factors associated with having a complete smoke-free home policy included being a college graduate (p=.005) and a nonsmoker versus a nondaily (p=.006) or a daily smoker (p<.001). Correlates of having a complete smoke-free worksite policy included being female (p=.005) and a nonsmoker versus a nondaily (p=.03) or a daily smoker (p<.001). Having complete worksite policies was associated with having smoke-free homes (p<.001).

Conclusions: Having complete worksite policies was related to having smoke-free home policies; both were associated with being a nonsmoker.

Keywords: American Indians; Smoking; secondhand smoke; smoke-free policies.