Prevalence and Associated Factors of Tobacco Smoking Exposure Among Youths in Southeast Asia: Evidence Based on Global Youth Tobacco Survey

Abstract

Tobacco smoking (TS) is a leading preventable cause of death internationally. The young generation is getting addicted to smoking rapidly which is alarming for the future generation. It is essential to increase awareness about exposure to TS in the environment (TSE) among youths in Southeast Asia. This study targets to obtain a reliable prevalence and associated factors of TSE among youths in Southeast Asia, as well as, to identify the major influencing factors for smoking. The Global Youth Tobacco Study (GYTS), a nationwide representative cross-sectional survey based on school-going adolescents of tobacco consumption and underlying factors among youths was examined in this study. Datasets from Bangladesh (2013), Indonesia (2019), and Thailand (2015) representing Southeast Asia were selected to analyze the prevalence of exposure to TSE. Predictors namely fundamental features, smoking at home, enclosed public spaces and other public locations, lessons about the influence of TS in class, etc. were found associated with TS. Tobacco use among adolescents is substantially associated with their social environment (at home and public locations). In Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Thailand, correspondingly 33%, 44.5% and 39.1% of participants were exposed to TS at home. In Bangladesh, for example, exposure to TS at home was a strong predictor of adolescent TS (OR=3.64; 95% CI=2.53-5.21); in Indonesia, (OR=0.42; 95% CI=0.38-0.48); and in Thailand, (OR=0.58; 95% CI=0.45-0.74). Similarly, adolescents who were aware of their exposure to TS were less likely to smoke. TS use prevention among school-going adolescents should be every government's top goal to reduce tobacco consumption to get a healthy generation.