The pattern of smoking habits: A hospital-based study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the pattern of smoking habits in Indonesia and to identify its risk in the development of smoking-related illnesses. Ten thousands five hundreds and two (10502) patients visiting the Out Patient Department of the Department of Internal Medicine Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia Dr. Cipto Mangunkusomo Hospital Jakarta, during the period of June 1, 1997 until May 31, 1998 have been interviewed about age, education and smoking habit. The collected data called the 1998 data was compared with the unpublished data collected by the same method from 13427 male patients visiting the same department during the period October 1, 1978 until March 1, 1979, called the 1978 data. This study found that the majority of male respondents were smokers, they started smoking mostly at the age of 16-24 years. In 1978 the prevalence of smokers was 58% and the percentage of those who began smoking before the age of 25 years was 76%, while in 1998 it was 61% and 80% respectively. The prevalence of female smokers was 6%. The percentage of smokers who smoked for 15 years or more increased from 25% to 58%, of smokers who consumed more than 10 cigarettes per day increased from 35% to 71%, of high risk group smokers increased from 5.4% to 50%, of smokers who graduated front university and of smokers with elementary school diploma increased from 13% and 19% to 30% and 34% respectively, but it decreased from 68% to 36% among smokers with high school diploma. Most smokers preferred kreteks, their number in 1978 was 6149 (79%) and in 1998 it was 2191 (62%). These risky consumption patterns undoubtedly will increase tobacco related diseases in Indonesia. Now it is urgently needed to establish a national policy and strategy for tobacco control.