Passive Smoking and Children - Dissertation Example

Download file to see previous pages... Furthermore, the World Health Organization suggests almost half of the children in the world that is 700 million children have exposure to secondhand smoke due to 1.2 billion smoking adults (Blair et al, pp. 372-373, 2010). Alone, in United Kingdom, passive smoking is associated with the deaths of almost 10700 people every year. Furthermore, secondhand smoke has been associated with more than “2000 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) deaths every year. More than 17000 children from five years to ten years of age in England and Wales are admitted to hospitals every year due to the various illness caused by the smoking of their parents” (Strauss et al, pp. 267-268, 2010). Even more surprising are the statistics, which claim that almost half of the children between the ages of 4-11 years have exposure to secondhand smoke in their homes (Blair et al, pp. 372-373, 2010). This explains every year almost 40 children die because of passive smoking alone in United Kingdom (Gordon et al, pp. 103-105, 2004).
One of the most important reasons behind study this topic is the fact that it is one of most important burning issues all around the world. As mentioned later in the paper as well that, until the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was this widespread belief that smoking only causes harm to the smoker (Yolton et al, pp. 461-465, 2008).
In light of the freedom and liberty principles, if the smoker is sane enough to understand the consequences and yet wants to smoke, then the state or law enforcement agencies must not create any barriers in his or her way. However, towards the end of 1980s, experts and researchers had conclusive evidence to prove that smokers were not only causing indirect damage but also direct damage with secondhand smoke to their children, partners, friends, colleagues, and others living in the surroundings (Gordon et al, pp. 103-105, 2004; Strauss et al, pp. 267-268, 2010). Ever since then, the civil society, NGOs, watchdogs and others have been trying to achieve the goal of a smoke free world. This study is another attempt to explore the disastrous impacts of passive smoking, specifically on children belonging from the age group of 5-10 years. Furthermore, the study would also come up with some recommendations to protect these children and solve this problem. Research Aims and Objectives The study revolves around the following research question. “What are effects of passive smoking on children of ages 5-10?” The research would attempt to achieve the following aims and objectives. To explore, investigate and critically analyze the social, economic, psychological, and physical impacts of passive smoking on children belonging from the age group of 5-10. To explore and analyze the long term and short term implications of these effects on children are their families To come up with a handful of recommendations to protect children from the destructive impacts of passive smoking Outline of the Thesis This heading would conclude the first chapter of ...Download file to see next pagesRead More