Electronic Cigarette and Heated Tobacco Product Use and Their Association With Tobacco Control Factors Among Adults in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines

Introduction:
This text provides a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory landscape for electronic cigarettes (EC) and heated tobacco products (HTP) in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines. The study examines the prevalence of EC and HTP use in these countries and identifies key factors associated with their use. The authors also explore the regulatory frameworks governing EC and HTP in each country and provide recommendations for improving regulatory oversight.

Key Points:

* The study finds that the prevalence of EC and HTP use is relatively high in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines, particularly among young adults and those with higher education and wealth.
* The study identifies several factors associated with EC and HTP use, including exposure to information about the dangers of tobacco use and advertising about tobacco products and smoke-free rules at home.
* The regulatory frameworks governing EC and HTP in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines vary significantly. Indonesia has unrestricted sales of EC but has imposed a new tax on e-cigarettes in 2021. The Philippines and Kazakhstan have limited restrictions on the sales of EC and HTP by location and age.
* The study recommends that regulatory oversight of EC and HTP should be strengthened in all three countries, particularly by implementing regulations to restrict the widespread marketing and sales of EC and HTP.

Main Message:
This study highlights the need for stronger regulatory oversight of EC and HTP in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines. The study finds that the prevalence of EC and HTP use is relatively high in these countries, particularly among young adults and those with higher education and wealth. The study also identifies several factors associated with EC and HTP use, including exposure to information about the dangers of tobacco use and advertising about tobacco products and smoke-free rules at home. Given these findings, the study recommends that regulatory oversight of EC and HTP should be strengthened in all three countries, particularly by implementing regulations to restrict the widespread marketing and sales of EC and HTP. These recommendations are critical for protecting public health and reducing the prevalence of tobacco use in these countries.

Chandrashekhar T Sreeramareddy, Matthew Ooi Shu Syuen, Muhammad Imaan Hon, Aqil M Daher, Electronic Cigarette and Heated Tobacco Product Use and Their Association With Tobacco Control Factors Among Adults in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 27, Issue 2, February 2025, Pages 254–261, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae187