Affiliations 

  • 1 Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia
  • 3 Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 4 Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 6 Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Botanik, Klang, Malaysia
  • 7 University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Asia Pac J Public Health, 2019 10;31(7_suppl):22S-31S.
PMID: 31802718 DOI: 10.1177/1010539519874944

Abstract

Smoking cessation significantly reduces risk of smoking-related diseases and mortality. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with attempts to quit and smoking cessation among adult current smokers in Malaysia. Data from the National E-Cigarette Survey 2016 were analyzed. Forty nine percent of current smokers had attempted to quit at least once in the past 12 months and 31.4% of the respondents were former smokers. Multivariable analysis revealed that current smokers with low nicotine addiction and aged below 45 years were more likely to attempt to quit smoking. Being married, older age group, and having tertiary education were significantly associated with smoking cessation. Only half of the current smokers ever attempted to quit smoking and only a third of smokers quit. Stronger tobacco control policies are needed in Malaysia to encourage more smokers to quit smoking. Improved access to cessation support for underprivileged smokers is also needed.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.