Open AccessMeasurement of Salivary pH Using Litmus Paper as a Screening Tool of Smoking Behavior in Adolescents
Author(s) -
Ango Timane Jessica,
F. Handy
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of global oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.002
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2378-9506
DOI - 10.1200/jgo.18.86100
Subject(s) - medicine , christian ministry , environmental health , demography , population , pediatrics , philosophy , theology , sociology
Background: Cigarettes are the biggest threat in the world, including Indonesia. According to The Health Ministry of Indonesia 2017 , Indonesia is one the country with the highest number of smokers. More than one-third (36.3%) of Indonesia's population, 20% are adolescents aged 13-15 years old. In Indonesia, cigarettes caused more than 200,000 deaths per year. It has been recorded that the amount of cigarettes consumed in Indonesia increases from 182 billion in 2001 to 260.8 billion in 2009. In addition to the increasing number of the smokers and the age of smoking, there is another factor which is adolescents deceit for their smoking behavior, therefore screening is necessary to prevent the complications from smoking. Aim: To find out changes in salivary pH as a smoking behavior screening tool in adolescents. Methods: : Results: Distribution of data in 85 samples with 50 nonsmokers and 35 smokers, got the youngest age of smoking is in fourth year of elementary school, with the highest number of cigarettes consumed per day is more than 2 boxes. The salivary pH in smokers was significantly ( P < 0.005) lower than nonsmokers. This can be seen also through since the smoke, the last time smoking and the number of cigarettes consumed per day. The younger age of smoking, the last time smoking (<24 hour) and the more the number of cigarettes consumed per day, that all can significantly decrease salivary pH. Conclusion: Salivary pH measurement using litmus paper is a potential screening for smoking behavior in adolescents.