Title: Health cost of exposure to passive smoking: evidence from Khulna city of Bangladesh

Authors: Nishad Nasrin; Sk. Faijan Bin Halim

Addresses: Economics Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh ' Economics Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Abstract: This study attempts to estimate the health cost of non-smokers who are indirectly treated as smokers. A total of 185 respondents were surveyed by random sampling technique from Khulna City, Bangladesh. The result reveals that about 39% respondents are exposed to tobacco smoke inside their house. Predictors such as chain smoker, smoking behaviour, exposure to passive smoking and average suffering days have a positive impact whereas, education, monthly income, sex, awareness of diseases, averting actions and eating healthy food have a negative impact on either the probability of facing or on the consequences of Smoking Borne Diseases (SBDs) to the passive smoker. The estimated illness cost is around US$ 44 per episode of illness. This study recommends that awareness through education, participation of NGOs, averting actions, balanced diet charts, along with the effective role of broadcasting media are considered to be momentous to stop smoking and develop better immune capacity against SBDs.

Keywords: passive smoking; smoking borne disease; averting actions; health cost; Khulna city.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBHR.2021.118790

International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research, 2021 Vol.7 No.4, pp.304 - 317

Received: 01 Apr 2021
Accepted: 03 Jul 2021
Published online: 06 Nov 2021 *

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