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INDONESIA

Abstract

Pneumonia is one of the most common types of acute respiratory infections (ARI) affecting children, especially toddlers. The extent to which a child is exposed to cigarette smoke depends largely on the mother's understanding of the risks of smoking to her child's health. Contact with or inhalation of cigarette smoke has been shown to interfere with the development of the respiratory system, trigger respiratory tract irritation, and increase the risk of children developing acute respiratory diseases, including pneumonia. Mothers who have a good understanding of the risks of exposure to cigarette smoke tend to take effective preventive measures to protect their children from this disease. This study aims to examine the relationship between mothers' understanding of the effects of cigarette smoke exposure and the frequency of pneumonia in children at Putri Hijau Hospital in Medan during the period 2024–2025. The study used an observational analytical design with a cross-sectional approach, which allowed for the collection of information at a single point in time to evaluate the relationship between independent and dependent variables. The results of the study obtained from 40 mothers with children diagnosed with pneumonia revealed that the majority of mothers had limited understanding of the effects of exposure to cigarette smoke, namely 30 people (75%). Statistical analysis using the chi-square test produced a p-value of 0.001 (p < 0.05), which indicates a significant relationship between the level of mothers' knowledge about exposure to cigarette smoke and the frequency of pneumonia in children.

Kata kunci : Childhood Pneumonia, Cigarette Smoke Exposure, Knowledge Level