Support of smoking restriction in public areas among adolescents in Malaysia-The findings from Tobacco and E-Cigarette Survey among adolescents in Malaysia (TECMA)

Authors

  • Kuang Hock Lim
  • Pei Pei Heng Institute for Medical Research
  • Hui Li Lim Hospital Sultan Ismail, Johor Bahru, Johor
  • Yoon Ling Cheong
  • Chee Cheong Kee
  • Sumarni Mohd Ghazali
  • Jia Hui Lim

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescents are the future generation, and their support for smoke-free policies might create momentum for future stringent smoke-free initiatives. This study aimed to determine the levels and factors associated with support for smoking in public areas among Malaysian school-going adolescents aged 10-19 years.

 

Methods: The data were derived from the Tobacco and E-cigarettes among adolescents in Malaysia (TECMA), which employed the cross-sectional study design and multistage sampling to select the representative samples of school-going adolescents. Data was obtained through self-administered of pre-validated questionnaire. Descriptive study, cross-tabulation and multivariable analysis were used for analysis

 

Result: Majority of respondents supported smoking restriction in public areas (86.3%, 95 CI 85.4-87.1). The proportion and likelihood of support of smoke-free initiative were higher among respondents with better knowledge of the harmful effects of second-hand smoke (SHS), been taught in school about the health effects of smoking, older age group (16-19 years), female, those students schooling in urban areas, Malay and other Bumiputras from Sabah and Sarawak. However, current smokers and ECV users were less likely to support smoke-free initiatives in public areas. 

 

Conclusion: The level of support for smoke-free initiative in public areas was high among youths in Malaysia, and this might offer promising prospects to expand the non-smoking areas to more public areas in the future.  

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Keywords: smoke-free public area, level of support, school-going adolescent,smoking status, TECMA

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Published

2021-10-07

How to Cite

Lim, K. H., Heng, P. P., Lim, H. L., Cheong, Y. L., Kee, C. C., Mohd Ghazali, S., & Lim, J. H. (2021). Support of smoking restriction in public areas among adolescents in Malaysia-The findings from Tobacco and E-Cigarette Survey among adolescents in Malaysia (TECMA). International Journal of Public Health Research, 12(1). Retrieved from https://spaj.ukm.my/ijphr/index.php/ijphr/article/view/315

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2022): International Journal of Public Health Research

Section

Public Health Research Articles

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