Increase in the Number of Active Smokers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Abstract

AbstractTobacco doesn’t just negatively impact the health of individuals, it also endangers the health of the environment. Therefore, efforts to reduce the consumption of tobacco cigarettes must continue to be strengthened. This study tries to find out after the Covid-19 pandemic spread in Indonesia, has the number of Active Smokers decreased or increased? The purpose of this study is to explain the increase or decrease in the number of Active Smokers after the Covid-19 pandemic spread in Indonesia. This study used the descriptive qualitative method. The data used are Susenas March 2019 data and Susenas March 2020 data. This study concludes that after the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia, namely in March 2020, the number of Active Smokers increased by 0.28% or 162,656 people. The increase in the number of Active Smokers consisted of an increase in the number of Light Smokers by 0.62% or 147,380 people, an increase in the number of Medium Smokers by 1.50% or 434,937 people, and a decrease in the number of Heavy Smokers by -9.67% or -419,661 people. This study recommends that all stakeholders take the momentum of the Covid-19 pandemic to strengthen efforts to reduce the number of Active Smokers and/or reduce cigarette consumption in Indonesia.