Prevalence and Associated Factors of Tobacco Use Among the Indigenous Population in Peninsular Malaysia.

Tobacco use is disproportionately high among Indigenous populations globally. However, the information regarding smoking prevalence among Orang Asli (Indigenous population in Peninsular Malaysia), remained scarce. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of tobacco use among 341 Orang Asli individuals aged 15 years and above across four states in Peninsular Malaysia. Data were collected through home visits using a validated and culturally adapted questionnaire from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). The results show that the prevalence of tobacco use was 30.5%, with cigarette smoking at 26.7%, e-cigarette use at 7.3%, and smokeless tobacco use at 2.9%. Multiple logistic regression (MLR) identified male gender and self-employment as significant predictors of cigarette use. Additionally, males and younger Orang Asli (aged 15-17) were more likely to use e-cigarettes, while religious affiliation was associated with lower odds of smokeless tobacco use. These findings highlight the need to strengthen tobacco control frameworks by incorporating targeted interventions that engage Orang Asli leaders, integrate health promotion within community structures, and implement stricter policy regulation of tobacco products to effectively reduce tobacco use and health disparities within this marginalized population.