Over Half Of Children In Most Deprived Areas Living With A Smoker

Over half of the children living in Northern Ireland's most deprived areas are living with an adult smoker, according to new research.

A report, by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH), said that in the community as a whole, less than four in 10 children in 2013 said they were living with an adult smoker, down from 52% 10 years previously.

The 'Smoke-Free Spaces on the island of Ireland' report also highlighted that the data shows major variations according to people's socio-economic status.

IPH Chief Executive, Dr Elizabeth Mitchell, said: "Children living in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to be living with an adult smoker.

"In fact 58% of 11 to 16 year olds from the most deprived areas lived with an adult smoker in 2013 as compared to 25% of children living in the least deprived areas.

"In 2003, of those young people aged 11-16 who were co-resident with an adult smoker, almost four-in-five (79%) reported that an adult smoked inside their home.

"A decade later, two-in-five (42%) young people co-resident with an adult smoker reported that an adult smoked inside their home."

(CD/JP)