Urban-rural differences in related factors of second-hand smoke exposure: a cross-sectional study of adult non-smokers in Northeast China.

Background: this study aims to examine the different factors associated with exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) between urban and rural areas and to facilitate a reduction in SHS exposure in Northeast China.

Methods: a multistage stratified random cluster sampling design was used in this 2012 cross-sectional survey in Jilin Province, Northeast China. A total of 13 056 non-smokers were included in this study. The Rao-Scott χ2 test, multiple regression analysis and discriminant function analysis were used.

Results: the SHS prevalence among adult non-smokers was 60.2% in urban areas and 61.8% in rural areas. In urban areas, males were more likely to be exposed to SHS, while in rural areas, females were more likely to be exposed to SHS (P < 0.05). Increasing age was a protective factor against SHS exposure both in urban and rural areas (P < 0.05). Tobacco-relevant knowledge was positively associated with SHS exposure. Among urban non-smokers, high education level and engagement in manual work were risk factors for SHS exposure, and retired subjects were less likely to be exposed to SHS (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: non-smokers from urban and rural areas differ in the factors associated with SHS exposure, and urban-rural differentials, especially with regard to gender, should be considered in tobacco control.