Measuring the saliva pH by litmus paper as a screening tool for adolescent smoking behavior (CAT#: STEM-PPA-0044-LJX)

Introduction

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. Litmus paper can be used to quickly measure the pH of saliva.