| Summary: | Introduction
The continuous monitoring of smoking prevalence and its associated
factors is an integral part of anti-smoking programmes and valuable for the evaluation
of the effectiveness of anti-smoking measures and policies. This study aimed at
determining prevalence of smoking and identifying socio-demographic factors
associated with smoking among adults in Malaysia aged 15 years and over.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study with a representative sample of 21 445 adults
in Malaysia, aged 15 years and over, selected via a stratified, two-stage proportionateto-
size sampling method. Data were obtained from face-to-face interviews by trained
research assistants, using a standard validated questionnaire. Multivariable logistic
regression was performed to determine socio-demographic factors associated with
smoking among Malaysians.
Results
The overall prevalence of smoking was 22.8% (95% CI: 21.9–23.8%), with
males having a significantly higher prevalence compared to females (43.0%, 95%
CI: 41.1–44.6 vs 1.4%, 95% CI: 1.1–1.7). The highest smoking prevalence was
observed among other ethnicities (35.7%), those aged 25–44 years (59.3%), and low
educational attainment (25.2%). Males, those with lower educational attainment and
Malays were significantly associated with smoking.
Conclusions
The prevalence of smoking among Malaysians, aged 15 years and over,
remains high despite the implementation of several anti-smoking measures over the past
decades. Specially tailored anti-smoking policies or measures, particularly targeting
males, the Malays, younger adults and those with lower educational attainment, are
greatly warranted to reduce the prevalence of smoking in Malaysia.
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