THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAMILY SMOKING BEHAVIOR AND THE INCIDENCE OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION (ARI) IN TODDLERS AT THE WATUBELAH PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER, CIREBON DISTRICT

One of the risk factors for acute respiratory infections (ARI) is smoking. This is because
the impact of smoking not only affects active smokers but also affects non-smokers (passive
smokers) exposed to secondhand smoke, especially vulnerable groups like toddlers.
The study was quantitative with a cross-sectional approach. The population was all
mothers with toddlers (aged 1-5 years) at the Watubelah Community Health Center,
Cirebon Regency, in March 2025. A total of 64 mothers were selected for sampling using
the Slovin formula. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses with the
chi-square test.
The results of this study indicate that most respondents (81.3%) have families with smoking
behavior and more than half of the respondents (79.7%) toddlers experienced Acute
Respiratory Tract Infections (ARI). The results of statistical tests with Chi Square obtained
a p value (0.005) < 5% (0.05) which indicates a significant relationship between smoking
behavior and the incidence of acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) at the Watubelah
Community Health Center.
It is hoped that health workers will increase public education on preventing ARI to reduce
the incidence of ARI and educate the public about the impact and dangers of smoking on
health and for toddlers. It is also hoped that families of toddlers with smoking family
members will keep them away from cigarette smoke, wash their hands, and change their
clothes after smoking.