1999-12-31-世界卫生组织-2000_GYTS_Country_Report_Trinidad_and_Tobago_29页_231kb

Global Youth Tobacco Survey: Trinidad and Tobago Summary

Objective

To document and monitor tobacco use among youth (13-15 years), assess attitudes and knowledge, and provide data to inform policy on youth tobacco control.

Key Findings

1. Prevalence:

   • 40.3% of surveyed students (aged 13-15) ever smoked cigarettes.
   • 14.0% were current smokers (smoked ≤1 cigarette/day).
   • 5.4% were frequent smokers (smoked ≥20 cigarettes/30 days).
   • Smoking prevalence increased with age and education/income levels, was higher among males, and was higher in Trinidad than Tobago.

2. Early Initiation:

   • 19.0% of ever-smokers first smoked before age 10, equally between males and females.
   • Of greater concern, 32.2% of students aged 12-15 smoked before age 10, up from 15.6% among older students surveyed in 1988, indicating a decreasing age of initiation.

3. Attitudes:

   • Many students (~34%, 85%) viewed smoking as socially unacceptable and did not want to smoke themselves.
   • Female current smokers (43%) and male current smokers (34%) were more likely to think boys (over girls) who smoke look 'cool'.
   • Never smokers were less susceptible to smoking offers and rated smoking as harder to quit (~63%).

4. Access & Availability:

   • 31.9% of current smokers obtained cigarettes from friends.
   • ~73% bought cigarettes without being refused (higher among females).
   • 11.1% reported offers from tobacco representatives.
   • High exposure (94%) to pro-tobacco media messages.
   • 19.4% of all students had objects with cigarette logos.

5. Social & Environmental Influence:

   • Twice as many current smokers reported adult household smoking.
   • Male and female current smokers smoked more frequently at home.
   • Very high exposure (87.9%) to images of actors smoking. Longitudinal data shows increased initiation post media exposure.
   • Strong perception smoke from others is harmful.

Recommendations

1. Legislation: Enforce existing laws banning cigarette sales to minors, prohibit use of minors for purchases. Strengthen laws prohibiting public smoking/secondhand smoke.
2. Education & Awareness: Implement continuous anti-smoking campaigns; Integrate tobacco education into school curricula; Increase cessation programs.
3. Marketing/Sales: Ban indirect advertising; Increase tobacco taxation to reduce affordability; Restrict sponsorships.
4. Monitoring: Repeat GYTS triennially for trend analysis; Expand surveys to schools in Tobago specifically.