Policy, Place, and Promotion: Predictors of Early Smoking in a Rural Health Setting

Policy, Place, and Promotion: Predictors of Early Smoking in a Rural Health Setting

smoking behavior,
adolescents,
smoking area,
cigarette
advertisement

Introduction: Adolescent smoking continues to pose a major public health
challenge, with the WHO reporting that nearly 22% of adolescents globally
have tried smoking, and national data in Indonesia showing prevalence
rates among junior high school students exceeding 10%. Early initiation
not only increases the risk of long-term nicotine dependence but also
disrupts physical and psychosocial development. This study analyzed the
influence of smoke-free policy implementation, availability of smoking
places, and exposure to cigarette advertisements on early smoking
behavior among junior high school adolescents in the Tanjungsiang Health
Center working area.
Methods: A cross-sectional design was used with 101 randomly selected
respondents, and data were collected using a validated questionnaire.
Results: The findings revealed that most respondents were 14 years old
and in grade VIII, with moderate smoking behavior as the dominant
category. Stricter smoke-free area (KTR) implementation significantly
reduced smoking behavior, while designated smoking places showed only
a weak association. In contrast, cigarette advertisement exposure showed
no significant association.
Conclusion: These results underscore the critical role of policy enforcement
in curbing adolescent smoking. Strengthening KTR enforcement,
particularly in schools and community environments, represents a
practical strategy to prevent early initiation and promote healthier
adolescent development in rural settings.

Useng Hidayat1*, Indasah1, Yenny Puspitasari1, & Mochamad Salman Hasbyalloh2

https://doi.org/10.37363/bnr.2025.64509

27 October 2025

Peri Irawan

pdf

english

text