How to Control and Reduce Smoking Hazards: A Case Study in Indonesia

Background The number of smokers in Indonesia in the last ten years has continued to increase, currently estimated at 70 million smokers. The risks posed by smoking are very serious, some of the diseases caused include: bronchitis, lung cancer, oral cancer, pancreatic cancer, asthma, stroke, hypertension, and reproductive problems. If there are no effective efforts to reduce the dangers of smoking, the young generation that is expected to be the golden generation to build the nation will be in vain; because their health is impaired; or even they will become a burden for Indonesia in the future. Method This study aims to determine effective strategies to reduce risk-based smoking hazards. Data was collected through interviews and focus group discussions, involving experts from academia, public health activists, researchers, policy makers and active and non-active smokers. Data were analyzed using qualitative analysis with the support of MACQDA software. Results The results of study showed that effective communication, government commitment, and public education are the keys to reducing risk-based smoking hazards. Policies to ban and limit advertisements need to be implemented, and the airtime of cigarette advertisements on TV should be shifted to a later time, so that school-age children are not exposed to advertisements. To support effective communication, the use of social media is needed because almost all smokers use this social media.