BACKGROUND: Tobacco poses a major global public health threat, with WHO report showing that over 7 million annual deaths occur from direct tobacco use and about 1.2 million deaths from second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure. Since no level of SHS exposure is safe, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommends 100% smokefree public places. However, only 13 countries in the WHO African Region have legislation providing for 100% smokefree public places.
METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted between October 2021 and February 2022, assessed SHS exposure among 300 workers across 160 hospitality venues in Abuja, Nigeria. Variables examined included educational status, SHS indoor policy, designated smoking area (DSA) availability, ability to control SHS exposure, frequency of exposure, respiratory symptoms, and current tobacco use.
RESULTS: Of the participants, 69% were male and 31% were female. SHS exposure at work was reported by 34.01%. Significant associations were found between SHS exposure frequency and variables such as educational status, indoor SHS policy, DSA availability, and ability to control exposure (p<0.05). Logistic regression showed participants with post-secondary education and those able to control SHS exposure were less likely to report exposure (OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.23–0.92) and (OR = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.15–0.52), respectively. Workers serving customers in DSAs were over eight times more likely to be exposed to SHS (OR = 8.14; 95% CI, 4.42–15.00).
Self-reported respiratory symptoms were noted in 16.33% of participants, with significant associations found with SHS exposure frequency and control ability (p<0.05). Workers exposed to SHS > 15 days/month were over six times more likely to report respiratory symptoms (OR = 6.60; 95% CI, 2.32–18.62).
CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores the need for the amendment of Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Act, 2015, to mandate 100% smoke-free public places and protect the health of non-smokers, especially workers’ hospitality venues.