Tobacco Use among School-Age Adolescents in Indonesia: Findings from the 2015 Indonesia Global School-Based Student Health Survey.

BACKGROUND

Although Indonesia has a considerable proportion of adolescent smokers, nationally representative studies of its determinants remain limited. The 2015 Indonesian Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) was conducted with school-age adolescents and provided information about smoking behavior. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, determinants, and correlates of tobacco use among adolescents in Indonesia using the GSHS survey.

METHODS

A secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2015 Indonesian GSHS. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the determinants and correlates of tobacco use.

RESULTS

Our analysis showed that 9.1% of school-age adolescents had used tobacco products in the past 30 days. Most were 13-15 years (61.7%) and had attempted to stop smoking (92.4%). After adjusting for covariates, significant risk factors associated with tobacco smoking were older age groups (prevalence odds ratio [POR], 3.01-9.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71-23.1), male (POR, 13.7; 95% CI, 8.71-21.5), psychological distress (POR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.05-1.90), smoking exposure (POR, 1.98-2.15; 95% CI, 1.35-3.42), and when both parents smoked (POR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.78-4.94). In addition, tobacco use was associated with other risky behaviors, including sex with multiple partners, using drugs, drinking alcohol, and being involved in physical fights.

CONCLUSION

Tobacco use is high among Indonesian adolescents. This prevalence highlights the need for a more stringent tobacco control policy and tailored cessation programs for adolescents by considering important modifiable determinants of tobacco use among adolescents, including risky smoking-related behaviors.