A Dissertation Submitted to School of Public Administration and Management (SOPAM) in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Award of the Master Degree of Health Systems Management (MHSM) of Mzumbe University
Second-hand smoke has been a serious health problem cause preventable death in the world. SHS has been major problem especially to under five children who exposed to SHS due to its morbidity and mortality since children are vulnerable group cannot control their own indoor environment.
Main objective:
To explore adverse health effects of second-hand tobacco smoking among under five children in Kibaha district.
Methodology:
The present study was designed to compare SHS health effects to under five children exposed to SHS and non-exposed to SHS. Cross sectional analytical design was applied to 110 under five children, of which 55 were children living with smoking parents and the other 55 comparison remaining group were children of non-smoking parents both attended RCH for monitoring their growth and health status also others were admitted paediatric ward at Tumbi referral hospital and Mlandizi health centre in Kibaha District. Using questionnaire with both open and close ended questions focusing on parents smoking status, quantity of cigarettes per day, smoking status of other family members as exposure variables. Data were analysed by using SPSS. Using cross tabulation of exposure and outcome variables.
Results:
At significance level of p=0.05found that children living with smoking parents showed (P<0.05). Majority had history of hospitalization for asthma and pneumonia. This suggests that respiratory system of children from smoking houses were at higher risk than non-smoking homes. Smoking fathers as exposure variable showed history of abortion, SIDS, difficulties in breathing, abnormal behaviours, asthma, pneumonia and middle ear infection as outcome variables. Conclusion: There is prevalence of adverse health effects to under five children exposed to second-hand smoke.