IntroductionTobacco advertisement bans in Indonesia are rare and seldom evaluated. The recent introduction of an outdoor tobacco advertisement (OTA) ban in Banyuwangi District, East Java, Indonesia provided an opportunity to evaluate such policy.MethodsUsing a mixed-methods approach, we undertook an observational study of OTA in 15 locations where such advertising had been prohibited. We also interviewed a sample of 114 store-owners/storekeepers and 131 community members, and conducted indepth interviews with government officials and the Public Order Agency (POA), the designated enforcement agency.ResultsIn phase 1 we found only one location was free of advertisements. We identified 667 advertisement points and 1283 advertisement materials in the study location; of these, 7% and 7.8% were within 25 m of schools and religious sites, respectively. Phase 2 showed that 68% of the respondents were unaware of the regulation, but many supported an OTA ban. Indepth interviews revealed that not all members of the POA were familiar with the regulation. POA members believed they will enforce the regulation better if higher level regulation for ban on tobacco advertisements, promotions and sponsorships was made and digital application is available to support surveillance.ConclusionPolicy violations were evident 1 year after the launch of OTA ban in Banyuwangi. Tobacco advertisements are still visible, including near schools and religious sites, potentially stimulating adolescents to smoke. Regional regulation and setting specific violation reductions as a performance indicator for POA could improve compliance. App-based technology could assist violation surveillance and reporting, as could awareness-raising campaigns that encouraged community support to report violation through the apps.

ObjectivesIn Indonesia, 61 million adults smoked in 2018, and 59 million were exposed to secondhand smoke at offices or restaurants in 2011. The Presidential Decree 109/2012 encouraged local governments to implement a smoke-free policy (SFP), and the city of Jayapura enacted a local bill (1/2015) to that effect in 2015. This study aimed to evaluate compliance with this bill and to explore challenges in implementing it.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-methods study. Quantitatively, we assessed compliance of facilities with 6 criteria (per the bill): the presence of signage, the lack of smoking activity, the lack of sale of tobacco, the lack of tobacco advertisements, the lack of cigarette smoke, and the lack of ashtrays. We surveyed 192 facilities, including health facilities, educational facilities, places of worship, government offices, and indoor and outdoor public facilities. Qualitatively, we explored challenges in implementation by interviewing 19 informants (government officers, students, and community members).ResultsThe rate of compliance with all 6 criteria was 17% overall, ranging from 0% at outdoor public facilities to 50% at health facilities. Spatial patterning was absent, as shown by similar compliance rates for SFP facilities within a 1-km boundary around the provincial and city health offices compared to those outside the boundary. Implementation challenges included (1) a limited budget for enforcement, (2) a lack of support from local non-governmental organizations and universities, (3) a lack of public awareness at the facilities themselves, and (4) a lack of examples set by local leaders.ConclusionsOverall compliance was low in Jayapura due to many challenges. This information provides lessons regarding tobacco control policy in underdeveloped areas far from the central government.

Comprehensive tobacco control policies include high taxes. This paper describes the tobacco excise structure in Indonesia from 2007 to 2009. The design of the tobacco excise system contributes to neutralizing the effect of a tax increase on consumption. Wide gaps in tax rates allow for the availability of low-priced products, and consumers can substitute to cheaper products in response to price increases. There has been no systematic increase in the tax rates, which promotes affordable of tobacco products. Firms can reduce their prices at point of sale and absorb the tax increase instead of passing it onto consumers. Tiered tax rates by production scale allow firms to evade paying the highest tax brackets legally, thereby increasing profit margins while reducing prices at point of sale. Increases in tobacco excise rates in Indonesia may not have a large health impact under the current system of tax administration.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a universal call to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity; goals which are strongly in line with the objective of Islam (maqasid al shariah).  Despite of global acceptance of the concept, however, financing issues remain the biggest challenge for realizing the SDGs. Innovative financing through partnership with religious and other institutions, therefore, has been recommended. With this perspective, this study aims to explore the potential of zakah to support financing and realizing the goals in Indonesia. This is done by identifying factors that influence the intention of Muslims to pay zakah and exploring the SDGs’ clusters prioritized to be financed from the zakah funds.  The study collected primary data from 304 respondents living in Greater Jakarta area of Indonesia and utilized the Theory of Planned Behaviors (TPB) approach to frame the intentions. It also used descriptive statistics and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze the data. The findings suggest that three TPB variables, namely attitudes, subjective norms and behavioral control, have a positive influence on the Muslims’ intention to pay zakat. Additionally, attitudes are influenced by religiosity, knowledge and trust to zakah organizations. Furthermore, of the five objective clusters’ in the SDGs, the people cluster (which includes objectives such as poverty reduction, education and health improvement) received the highest priority in the perceptions of the Muslims regarding the use of zakah for financing SDGs. The findings highlight the potential of zakah in supporting achievement of SDGs in Indonesia, something that might be useful for government, NGOs, zakah organizations and other zakah stakeholders.

In the midst of tackling the persistent burden of maternal mortality and infectious diseases, Indonesia is facing an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Although there are increasing national efforts in NCD prevention and control, the worsening trend of NCD risk factors and morbidity is alarming. We provided assessment and discussion on the policies and actions needed in the country including comprehensive efforts to reduce tobacco use and unhealthy diet, the need to reorient the health systems for better NCD prevention and control, and the promotion of NCD-related research that are still lacking.