Smoking Behavior and Cigarette Expenditure in a Household: Evidence for Smoke-Free Houses Initiation in Indonesia

BACKGROUND: The household is considered as a private area that is untouched tobacco control policies in developing countries, especially in Indonesia, which has not ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) treaty. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify smoking behavior and expenditure on cigarettes in the household, which are part of the initiation of a policy including a smoke-free home, so it assumes that the home is a public domain in Tegal Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. METHODS: This research is an observational study with a quantitative descriptive design. A total of 225 subjects in the seven regions designated as smoke-free areas were all selected as samples in this study and were willing to be the subject of research. RESULTS: The results found that 76.1% of smokers smoked with their nuclear family (wife/children/husband) present. Smoking behavior with the nuclear family inside the home (39.13%) and outside the home (36.96%) was more common than not smoking with the nuclear family. Expenditure for cigarettes per month was one-third of household revenue (IDR 607,521.74) based on the regency minimum wage (UMR) set by the local government. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that smokers who smoke with family still lack knowledge on smoking's impact on health and household economics. The smoke-free regulation that is initiated should include households as a parameter.