Factors affecting commencement and cessation of smoking behaviour in Malaysian adults

Abstract

BackgroundTobacco consumption peak in developed countries has passed, however, it is on the increase in many developing countries. Apart from cigarettes, consumption of local hand-rolled cigarettes such as bidi and rokok daun are prevalent in specific communities. Although factors associated with smoking initiation and cessation has been investigated elsewhere, the only available data for Malaysia is on prevalence. This study aims to investigate factors associated with smoking initiation and cessation which is imperative in designing intervention programs.MethodsData were collected from 11,697 adults by trained recording clerks on sociodemographic characteristics, practice of other risk habit and details of smoking such as type, duration and frequency. Smoking commencement and cessation were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier estimates and log-rank tests. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to calculate the hazard rate ratios.ResultsMales had a much higher prevalence of the habit (61.7%) as compared to females (5.8%). Cessation was found to be most common among the Chinese and those regularly consuming alcoholic beverages. Kaplan-Meier plot shows that although males are more likely to start smoking, females are found to be less likely to stop. History of betel quid chewing and alcohol consumption significantly increase the likelihood of commencement (p < 0.0001), while cessation was least likely among Indians, current quid chewers and kretek users (p < 0.01).ConclusionsGender, ethnicity, history of quid chewing and alcohol consumption have been found to be important factors in smoking commencement; while ethnicity, betel quid chewing and type of tobacco smoked influences cessation.

Multi‐ethnic variations in the practice of oral cancer risk habits in a developing country

“…In this current study, it was found that smoking was most prevalent in the Malay ethnic group. This finding is in agreement with an earlier study in which the Malays were found to be significantly more likely to develop this habit (Ghani et al, ), as well as findings of the Malaysian National Health and Morbidity survey which reported the practice of this habit among a quarter of Malays, remarkably higher than other ethnic groups (Institute for Public Health, ). In addition, a study among migrant communities in the UK identified that smoking was most commonly found among Malay males compared to other Asian ethnic groups (Vora, Yeoman, & Hayter, ).…”

Risk and Protective Factors for Cigarette Use in Young Adolescents in a School Setting: What Could Be Done Better?

“…The Indian young adolescents were more likely to be smokers than the Malays, which is not consistent with the previous study among adult population [22], but is consistent with the national Malaysian survey conducted among older people aged 50 years, in which they found that compared to Malay, Indian older generation significantly suffered from coronary heart disease where smoking was a known risk factor [23]. Risk of being a smoker was low among our Chinese respondents, similar to another Malaysian study which found that smoking cessation was most common among Chinese adults due to their concerns related to health [24]. It is possible that Chinese adolescents in this study had received similar health related message from their elders which discouraged them to adopt this risky health behaviour compared to other ethnic groups in Malaysia.…”

Tobacco (Kretek) Smoking, Betel Quid Chewing and Risk of Oral Cancer in a Selected Jakarta Population

“…This could be due to the fact that the chewing of quid with tobacco would supplement the nicotine intake of these patients and therefore better satisfy their addiction to nicotine. This finding is further corroborated by a study among a national Malaysian dataset which found that a history of betel quid chewing significantly increases the likelihood to start smoking (Ghani et al, 2012).…”