Smoking Among Adolescent Males at Pulau Weh, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Use of tobacco may cause severe diseases like cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer. Smoking is a major threat to public health in many low- and middle-income countries.Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of smoking among boys in the age group 13-15 years at Pulau Weh in Indonesia, and identify factors associated with smoking.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 291 male students, aged 13-15 years, in three participating secondary schools. A modified version of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey questionnaire was used to collect data. The association between active smoking within the previous 30 days, and social and demographic factors was analysed by multiple logistic regressions.Results: 40.2% of the male students were habitual smokers at the time of the study. The adjusted odds of current smoking increased with increasing age (odds ratio [OR] = 5.1, 95% CI: 2.2–12.3); having a father with a university or university college education (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.0–7.1); having friends who smoke (OR = 5.2, 95% CI: 1.6–16.5), having sibling who smoke (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2–6.2); having a father who smokes (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1–3.9) and attending a rural school (OR = 7.4, 95% CI: 2.8–19.6).Conclusions: Cigarette smoking was found to be prevalent among 13 to 15-year-old male students in Pulau Weh, Indonesia, significantly higher in students attending a rural school compared to those attending an urban school. Indonesia should take steps to redress the smoking epidemic among adolescents by various means, e.g., minimizing access to tobacco products, stricter enforcement of tobacco control laws and changing attitudes to smoking.

Adolescent Smoking Behavior In Indonesia; A Longitudinal Study

“…Adolescent age was significantly related to smoking behavior. The results of this study were in line with research conducted by Skulberg et.al which showed that there were differences in the proportion of smoking among adolescents between age groups (Skulberg, Hamid, & Vaktskjold, 2019). The researchers divided adolescents into two age groups, 14 years or less and more than 14 years of age.…”

“…The results of this study were also in line with a study in Korea that the classification of residence in rural, urban, and metropolitan cities did not affect adolescent smoking behavior (Kim et al, 2013). However, differences with the study by Skulberg found that the odds of being an active smoker were 7.4 times higher among students at the public rural school, as compared to the public school in town (Skulberg et al, 2019).…”

Effects of Peers and Family Members on Smoking Habits in Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

“…According to a study conducted by Skullberg et al (2019) in Weh Island, Indonesia, having siblings and parents who smoked increased the risk factors for smoking in adolescents. More than a third of boys in the 13-15 year-age group were found to smoke.…”

Determinants of Tobacco Use among Adolescents and Young Adults in Indonesia: An Analysis of IFLS-5 Data

“…[6] Several factors are associated with tobacco use behavior such as age, sex, educational attainment, economic status, residential geographic condition, and family member influence. [7][8][9] Various studies on factors driving tobacco consumption have been conducted in Indonesia. [7,8,10] The results were mostly in conjunction with other studies conducted around the world.…”

“…[7][8][9] Various studies on factors driving tobacco consumption have been conducted in Indonesia. [7,8,10] The results were mostly in conjunction with other studies conducted around the world. However, very few (if not none) of them investigated the correlation between cultural and religious factors, such as ethnic identity and religion, with tobacco consumption using nationally representative data.…”