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BMC Public Health

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Parental smoking and child poverty in the UK: an analysis of national survey data

Authors: Charmaine Belvin, John Britton, John Holmes, Tessa Langley

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

In 2011/12 approximately 2.3 million children, 17% of children in the UK, were estimated to be in relative poverty. Cigarette smoking is expensive and places an additional burden on household budgets, and is strongly associated with socioeconomic deprivation. The aim of this study was to provide an illustrative first estimate of the extent to which parental smoking exacerbates child poverty in the UK.

Methods

Findings from the 2012 Households Below Average Income report and the 2012 Opinions and Lifestyle Survey were combined to estimate the number of children living in poor households containing smokers; the expenditure of typical smokers in these households on tobacco; and the numbers of children drawn into poverty if expenditure on smoking is subtracted from household income.

Results

1.1 million children - almost half of all children in poverty - were estimated to be living in poverty with at least one parent who smokes; and a further 400,000 would be classed as being in poverty if parental tobacco expenditure were subtracted from household income.

Conclusions

Smoking exacerbates poverty for a large proportion of children in the UK. Tobacco control interventions which effectively enable low income smokers to quit can play an important role in reducing the financial burden of child poverty.

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Title: Parental smoking and child poverty in the UK: an analysis of national survey data
Authors: Charmaine Belvin
John Britton
John Holmes
Tessa Langley
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1797-z

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Parental smoking and child poverty in the UK: an analysis of national survey data

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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