Qualitative Study of the Non–Smoking Areas Policy Implementation in Junior High Schools at Labuhan Batu Selatan Regency

Abstract

The implementation of the Non–Smoking Areas (NSA) policy in schools as an effort to control adolescents’s high smoking behavior and to protect the health of school community from the dangers of cigarette smoke is still not optimal. Labuhan Batu Selatan Regency in North Sumatra Province has a relatively low implementation of 14.15% out of the 50% target. This study aims to analyze the NSA policy implementation in Junior High Schools at Labuhan Batu Selatan Regency. This is a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach research. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews with a total of 14 informants from two junior high schools in Labuhan Batu Selatan Regency. The results showed that, the lack of government socialization and not routine and unscheduled socialization for school residents, inadequate resources, including the lack of budget allocation, infrastructure such as banners, posters, and ‘No-Smoking Area’ stickers, and the lack of a NSA policy’s working group, caused the implementation of NSA to not be optimal. The provision of sanctions, which needs to be improved, especially for teachers and other school occupants who violate the NSA policy, and the absence of standard operating procedures are also among the reasons for the poor implementation of the NSA policy, as evidenced by the large number of school residents seen smoking in the school. Local governments and schools are expected to make efforts to improve the communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structure aspects to achieve more effective NSA policy implementation.