Tobacco Use Among the Adult Muslim Population in Indonesia: A Preliminary Study on Religion,Cultural,and Socioeconomic Factors

Abstract

In this study, we used data from the Indonesia Family Life Survey Wave 2014 to explore the association between tobacco use (measured in smoking habit, smoking cessation, and smoking intensity) with demographic, socioeconomic, and religious factors among the Muslim population in Indonesia (n = 28,285). Our study found that Muslims who pray regularly as regulated in Islam are less likely to have a smoking habit or more likely to stop smoking and to smoke less. Other factors associated with no smoking or smoking less include education, having health insurance, and having a medical checkup. Reducing tobacco prevalence in Indonesia and other predominantly Muslim communities may include incorporating religious interpretation about tobacco use, education on the risk of tobacco through school systems, and increasing access to health insurance that covers addictions prevention and recovery.