Prevention of the Dangers of Smoking to Heart and Lung Health Among Adolescents at Muhammadiyah Vocational High School Delanggu

Abstract

Smoking is a behavior that has negative impacts on health, especially among adolescents who are still in their growth and developmental stages. Early-age smoking has become a serious challenge in efforts to create a healthy generation, particularly due to exposure to information and environmental influences that encourage smoking behavior among teenagers. Based on the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) conducted by the Ministry of Health, the prevalence of active smokers in Indonesia has reached approximately 70 million people. Of this number, 7.4% are children and adolescents aged 10–18 years. Specifically, the 10–14 age group accounts for 18.4% of the total active smokers, indicating that many children begin smoking during late elementary school to early adolescence. This activity was carried out at Muhammadiyah Vocational High School Delanggu that involving 30 students. The phenomenon was identified through observations and interviews with teachers, which revealed that several students had limited knowledge about the dangers of smoking and had even tried smoking due to peer influence at school and within the family environment. The implementation of this community service program consisted of educational sessions on the dangers of smoking through interactive media and participatory approaches, including video screenings and group discussions. The activity aimed to instill early awareness of the negative effects of smoking on adolescents’ heart and lung health. The evaluation results showed an increase in students’ understanding of the dangers of smoking and a more critical attitude toward smoking behavior. This program is expected to serve as a sustainable intervention model for early smoking prevention.