Prevalence of environmental tobacco smoke by industry in central America: findings from the II central American survey of working conditions and health

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure remains a preventable cause of illness and death worldwide. Tobacco smoke bans reduce exposure, but enforcement in Central America has been slow. Workplaces can reduce ETS impact through policies. This study assessed ETS exposure across various industries in Central America. Data were drawn from II Central American Working Conditions and Health Survey administered between February and June of 2018. The prevalence of ETS and 95% CIs were calculated. Survey-weighted logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations of exposure to ETS with industry, socio-demographics, and working conditions. Among the 9,032 workers studied, 61.3% were male, 43.8% were aged 25–45, and 32.4% worked in agriculture. ETS exposure was highest in the transportation industry (40.1%) and lowest in education/healthcare (11.5%). Males (OR = 1.33; 95%CI: 1.01–1.76), workers with high psychological demands (OR = 1.92; 95%CI: 1.49–2.47), and current smokers (OR = 4.46; 95%CI: 3.27–6.08) had higher odds of ETS exposure. Exposure to ETS in Central American workplaces remains high, varying by industry. Despite policy changes in the region, the high ETS exposure indicates weak enforcement.