A Call for Action: High Smoking and Alcohol Prevalence among Indonesian Male Youth

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and patterns of smoking and alcohol consumption among Indonesian male youth: one of the key populations in NCDs prevention. Methods: Data from Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) 2017 was analyzed. A total of 13,079 male age 15-24 years old were interviewed for smoking and alcohol consumption. The IDHS 2017 further collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, including age, education, and area of residence. Results:The smoking prevalence among Indonesian male youth were 48.7%, with higher prevalence in rural area (50.5%) compared to urban area (47.2%). An alarming rate of 77.5% male youth had tried smoking, with almost 21% tried smoking during elementary school-age (<13 years old). Approximately 37% of male youth had drunk alcohol, although only less than 2% drank alcohol more than 30 days in the past three months. Similar to smoking, most (85.1%) of the male youth first tried drinking alcohol during school-aged years. The prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption in Indonesia is relatively high, with school-aged children susceptible for initiation of smoking. Intervention to reduce these health-risk behaviors should be aimed at school-aged children. School-based intervention intertwined with family and community support might be an effective strategy to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption among Indonesian male youth. Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption in Indonesia is relatively high, with schoolaged children susceptible for initiation of smoking. Intervention to reduce these health-risk behaviors should be aimed at school-aged children. School-based intervention intertwined with family and community support might be an effective strategy to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption among Indonesian male youth.

Sociodemographic predictors for smoking persistence among young males in Indonesia

“…In Indonesia, the prevalence of smoking, one of the main risk factors for NCDs, is relatively high, particularly among males. Almost 57% of males in Indonesia were regular smokers, with more than 75% of young males having tried smoking, and more than half of those continued to become regular smokers 11 . In addition, adolescent smoking and tobacco use are also high in Indonesia.…”