This study aimed to identify the determinants associated with 4 smoking trajectories (never smoking, current smoking, consistently quitting smoking, and smoking relapse) among Indonesian children using pooled national data. This study analyzed children’s smoking trajectories using pooled data from the Indonesian Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2006, 2009, 2014, and 2019). Multinomial logistic regression was applied to examine 4 categories of smoking behavior, and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to address potential selection bias related to advertising exposure.
The findings indicate that children’s smoking relapse in Indonesia is shaped by distinct behavioral trajectories. Relapse was influenced by the widespread availability of single-stick cigarettes, pervasive marketing, peer dynamics, and relatively affordable prices. These results underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy that includes substantially increasing excise taxes, eliminating single-stick sales, and fully banning tobacco advertising. Simultaneous implementation of these measures is crucial to prevent relapse and interrupt the progression toward lifelong nicotine addiction.
