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.