2009-12-31-世界卫生组织-2010_GYTS_Fact_Sheet_Tonga_1页_117kb

Summary of Tonga Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2010

Background

The survey was a school-based study conducted in 2010, targeting students aged 13-15 in Tonga. It included data from 2,189 students across selected schools, with an 80.5% response rate. The survey assessed tobacco use prevalence and key determinants such as access, exposure to secondhand smoke, media influences, and school-based factors involving 2,189 students aged 13-15.

Key Findings on Tobacco Use

• Overall, 45.1% of students had ever smoked cigarettes, with higher rates among boys (58.2%) than girls (35.3%).
• Current use of any tobacco product stood at 35.7% (boys: 44.9%, girls: 28.0%), including 27.1% who smoked cigarettes and 21.6% using other tobacco forms.
• Among never smokers, 34.9% were at risk of starting smoking in the next year.
• Students frequently smoked at home (28.7%) and could easily buy cigarettes (59.3% not refused due to age), with accessibility higher in stores near schools.

Attitudes Toward Smoking

• Most students (56.8%) perceived secondhand smoke as harmful, and 46.3% supported banning smoking in public places, with over two-thirds (67.9%) exposed to smoke outside the home.
• A majority (75.9%) wanted to stop smoking, and 89.0% had attempted to quit in the past year, often with help received.
• Students held mixed attitudes: 50.6% believed smoking increased social acceptance for boys, but few saw it as attractive.

Social and Environmental Factors

• Nearly half of students (48.0%) had at least one parent who smoked, and 14.8% had most friends smoking, suggesting strong family and peer influences.
• Media played a role, with 80.7% exposed to anti-smoking messages recently, yet symbols like cigarette logos on products (20.6% exposure) were common.
• School-based education covered tobacco dangers (57.6%), effects (61.9%), and reasons for youth smoking, but discussions on prevention were less frequent.

Implications for Tobacco Control

Tonga faces high youth tobacco use, driven by accessibility, parental smoking, and limited cessation support. The survey highlights the need for comprehensive tobacco control programs, including stricter policies on sales, public smoking bans, and enhanced school-based education to reduce initiation and harm.