Family Role towards Smoking Behaviour among Children in Jakarta

In Indonesia, the prevalence of smoking among 5-9 years old children has increased from 0.4% in 2001 to 2% in 2007. Among present adults smokers (>20 years), 17% started to smoke before the age of 13 years. This study identified factors related to smoking behaviour among 8 - 12 years old children in Jakarta, Indonesia using a questionnaire based cross sectional survey to obtain smoking status and possible predictors towards smoking habit. The total sample size was 1,097 students among 3rd - 7th grade students from schools in Jakarta. Self-reported smoking status was defined as whether the child had smoked tobacco within the past two months prior to the interview. The prevalence of smoking was 13.4%. Logistic regression analysis showed that high parental approval on tobacco use (OR=13.4; CI 95%: 5.1 - 35.1) was the strongest predictor on children smoking status, followed by low parental control (OR=12.1; CI 95%: 6.9 - 21.2), being a male compared to a female (OR=10.7; CI 95%: 5.3 - 21.7), mother (OR=10.58; CI 95%: 3.96 - 28.28), father (OR=7.69; CI 95%: 3.59 - 16.47), sibling (OR=7.91; CI 95%: 4.41 - 14.17) smoking status. Smoking parents and siblings, low parental control, and high parental approval on smoking were related to higher odds of smoking among children. The results were used as a rationale for suggestions and recommendations of relevance for future intervention programs and tobacco related research with specific focus on children.