Exploring Recommendations for an Effective SmokingPrevention Program for Indonesian Adolescents

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The present qualitative study assessed the need, acceptability and appropriateness forimplementing effective and culturally appropriate smoking prevention programs for adolescents in schools inIndonesia. <br/><b>Methods</b>: Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants. The study sample comprised a mixtureof staff in the education department, junior high school teachers and individuals who had taught junior highschool students in Aceh Province, Indonesia. Data were collected through one hour in-depth face to face ortelephone interviews and analyzed using a descriptive content analysis procedure. <br/><b>Results</b>: School teachers andpolicy makers in education firmly supported the implementation of a school-based smoking prevention programin Aceh. An appropriate intervention for smoking prevention program in schools in Aceh should involve bothhealth and Islamic based approaches, and be provided by teachers and external providers. Potential barriers tothe program included smoker teachers and parents, time constraints of students and/or teachers, lack of teachers’ability, increase in students’ load, the availability of tobacco advertising and sales, and lack of tobacco regulationand support from community and related departments. To increase program effectiveness, involvement of andcoordination with other relevant parties are needed. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: The important stakeholders in Indonesianchildhood education agreed that school-based smoking prevention program would be appropriate for juniorhigh school students. An appropriate intervention for smoking prevention program for adolescents in schoolsin Indonesia should be appropriate to participants’ background and involve all relevant parties.