Health Promotion by Parents and Caregivers to Protect Infants against Smoking Risks
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Health Promotion by Parents and Caregivers to Protect Infants against Smoking Risks
Introduction
The first year of life is a crucial period of growth and development for infants. In order to ensure that infants develop appropriately, their health and safety must get maintained. Unfortunately, several environmental factors could threaten the health and safety of infants. In this paper, I will discuss one such ecological aspect and how it can affect the health and safety of infants. I will also provide a health promotion plan that can get presented to parents and caregivers to address this environmental factor and improve infants' overall health and well-being.
Environmental Factor
The environmental factor that I have chosen to discuss is secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is exhaled by smokers and produced by burning cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other tobacco products (CDC, 2022). Secondhand smoke is a major health hazard and can pose a significant threat to the health and safety of infants.
Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Infants
Secondhand smoke has several negative effects on the health and safety of infants. Infants exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis (CDC, 2022). They are also at an increased risk of developing ear and other respiratory infections. Additionally, secondhand smoke can increase an infant's risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Health Promotion Plan
In order to protect the health and safety of infants, parents and caregivers must be aware of the risks associated with secondhand smoke and take steps to reduce their infants' exposure (Behbod et al., 2018). The following health promotion plan can be presented to parents and caregivers to address the environmental factor of secondhand smoke and improve infants' overall health and well-being.
Recommendations
The first recommendation is that parents and caregivers should avoid smoking in the presence of infants. Parents and caregivers should also avoid smoking in the home, car, or any other enclosed space where an infant may be present (Behbod et al., 2018). Additionally, parents and caregivers should avoid exposing infants to secondhand smoke by not smoking near them, not smoking in the home or car, or smoking in any other enclosed space where an infant may be present.
Interventions
In addition to avoiding smoking in the presence of infants, parents and caregivers can take additional steps to reduce their infants' exposure to secondhand smoke (Behbod et al., 2018). These steps include ensuring that any family members or visitors who smoke do not smoke near the infant. Ensure that all family members and visitors wash their hands after smoking. Finally, ensure all clothing, bedding, and other items exposed to secondhand smoke are cleaned thoroughly.
Evidence-Based Research
Several studies have been conducted on the effects of secondhand smoke on newborns and the procedures that may get taken to decrease their substance exposure. In one of these studies, which was carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the researchers discovered that newborns who were exposed to secondhand smoking had an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, and other respiratory ailments (CDC, 2022). Exposure to secondhand smoke is known to cause various health issues in adults and children, making this a significant issue that needs to be addressed. The effects of secondhand smoke may be much more severe in newborns than in older children or adults because infants' lungs are tiny and developing, and their immune systems are still developing.
The research conducted by the CDC also indicated that taking modest precautions, such as not smoking when a newborn is present and ensuring that all members of the household and guests wash their hands after smoking, may assist in decreasing an infant's exposure to secondhand smoke (CDC, 2022; CDC, 2023). That information demonstrates that modest efforts can significantly impact the degree to which newborns are protected from the adverse consequences of exposure to secondhand smoke. Since smoking may transfer germs from one person to another, it is also important to note that ensuring that all members of the family and visitors wash their hands after smoking could help reduce the spread of germs and infections significantly.
According to Zhou et al., 2019, various treatments may get utilized to limit exposure to secondhand smoke in the family. These interventions include seeking counseling and assistance from self-help resources and getting fathers to quit smoking. Interactions with members of one's family, as well as follow-up meetings in which counseling is provided or using text messages, may also be helpful in successfully stopping smoking. These therapies have been shown to be beneficial in lowering cotinine levels in children, decreasing the amount of tobacco consumed, and raising the percentage of parents who can stop smoking (Zhou et al., 2019). Unfortunately, the favorable benefits did not remain stable for three to six months after the therapies.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also provided some suggestions for minimizing exposure to passive smoking (US EPA, OAR, ORIA, IED, 2018). They advise getting rid of secondhand smoke in the indoor environment, which may get accomplished by instituting smoke-free regulations in the home and the place of employment. They also urge that smoking be made illegal inside and that methods like ventilation and filtration are used to reduce the amount of inhaled secondhand smoke.
Resources
Several resources are available to parents and caregivers with information about secondhand smoke and how to reduce their infants' exposure.
Community Resources
1. American Lung Association:
The American Lung Association offers a variety of resources on secondhand smoke, including information on the health effects of secondhand smoke on infants, tips on how to create a smoke-free environment, and support for quitting smoking.
2. Local Health Department:
Many local health departments offer resources on secondhand smoke, including information on the health effects of secondhand smoke on infants, tips on creating a smoke-free environment, and support for quitting smoking.
National Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
The CDC offers a variety of resources on secondhand smoke, including information on the health effects of secondhand smoke on infants, tips on how to create a smoke-free environment, and support for quitting smoking.
Web-based Resources
Smokefree.gov:
Smokefree.gov is a website from the National Cancer Institute that provides information on secondhand smoke, including the health effects of secondhand smoke on infants, tips on how to create a smoke-free environment, and support for quitting smoking.
Conclusion
Secondhand smoke can be a major health hazard for infants and significantly threaten their health and safety. In order to protect the health and safety of infants, parents and caregivers must be aware of the risks associated with secondhand smoke and take steps to reduce their infants' exposure. The health promotion plan outlined in this paper can be presented to parents and caregivers to address the environmental factor of secondhand smoke and improve infants' overall health and well-being.
References
Behbod, B., Sharma, M., Baxi, R., Roseby, R., & Webster, P. (2018). Family and carer smoking control programmes for reducing children’s exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd001746.pub4
CDC. (2022, November 28). Health Problems Caused by Secondhand Smoke. Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/secondhand-smoke/health.html#:~:text=Secondhand%20smoke%20can%20cause%20adverse
CDC. (2023). Children and secondhand Smoke Exposure - CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/2006/pdfs/childrens-excerpt.pdf
US EPA, OAR, ORIA, IED. (2018, December 10). Secondhand Smoke and Smoke-free Homes | US EPA. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/secondhand-smoke-and-smoke-free-homes
Zhou, Y. H., Mak, Y. W., & Ho, G. W. K. (2019). Effectiveness of Interventions to Reduce Exposure to Parental Secondhand Smoke at Home among Children in China: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(1), 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16010107