Abstract

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we aimed to determine why parents do not abstain from smoking around their children who admitted to the “well-baby clinic” of a university hospital in Ankara.

METHODS

Data collection of this descriptive study was conducted between 11th of November 2013 and 30th of March 2014. One hundred and fifteen volunteer participants who are either mothers or fathers of the children under five years of age participated in the study.

RESULTS

Fifty three point nine percent of the participants were fathers and 46.1% of them were mothers. Forty nine point six percent of the participants stated that they had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and 37.4% of them were current smokers. Nobody smoke in 75.7% of the participants’ houses. Smoking was not prohibited in the balconies in 32.1% of the houses. The most frequent two reasons why the participants do not abstain from smoking around their children were lack of information (34.7%) and addiction (24.6%).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The major passive smoking source at home is the parents’ smoking behavior. Prevention of this unhealthy behavior is crucial for children’s health. Long term studies in cross-sectional and qualitative designs clarifying the dynamics which determine parents’ abstaining behavior from smoking around their kids are needed.